Villa join forces with Turku

English Premiership club Aston Villa FC have formed a partnership with Finnish side TPS Turku after beating off competition from Manchester United FC and Arsenal FC to sign highly-rated youngster Mika Aaritalo.

Youth Academy
Villa revealed they aim to help Turku to establish a youth academy over the next three years with a view to signing more players in the future when they announced the signing of the 17-year-old striker, who will join the Midlands club in January.

Scandinavian foothold
Villa coach Graham Taylor wants the to enable the Birmingham club to gain a foothold in the Scandanavian transfer market. "Hopefully we will establish something there that should give this club some sort of entry into that part of the European continent," he said.

Gut feeling
Taylor is also delighted to have snapped up one of the most sought after prospects in Finland. "I felt straight away when I saw him that there were two or three things we wouldn't have to teach this boy," said the former England manager.

'Great left foot'
"He has got this ability to make runs for other people and a lot of full-time professionals don't have that," he added. "Only the very best know how to make runs when they personally don't want the ball. The physique is already there - he's tall - and he has a great left foot. He has great awareness of the game for somebody who is so young."

Youth international
Aaritalo has already represented Finland at Under-19 and Under-20 levels and has scored 19 goals for the Turku youth side this season. He follows the same path as current Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, who joined the Birmingham side from Turku for €320,000 in 1998.