Aston Villa were crowned as FA Youth Cup champions for the 2024-25 season after a clinical 3-1 victory against Manchester City at Villa Park.

After Matty Warhurst gave City an early lead, TJ Carroll’s header instantly levelled the score.

It was Cole Brannigan’s stunning strike which turned the game in favour of the hosts before Jamaldeen Jimloh-Aloba’s long-distance strike sealed Villa’s fifth FA Youth Cup title.

16-year-old Harrison Miles pounced on a lose pass from Sam Proctor in the early exchanges and set up Warhurst, who tapped the ball into the bottom corner to give Manchester City the start of dreams.

Aston Villa’s TJ Carroll scores against Manchester City in the 2025 FA Youth Cup Final

However, the hosts responded instantly with their first corner of the game, as Carroll rose highest to nod Villa back on level terms in what was an electrifying start to the fixture.

Reigan Heskey was fast on his feet and glanced past two players, and his cross presented Christian Dunbar-McDonald with a golden chance to give City the lead, but he failed to hit the target.

Brannigan gave Aston Villa the lead for the first time on the half-hour mark, after Kaden Brathwaite’s header failed to clear the danger and Brannigan struck the ball beautifully on the half-volley which nestled into the top corner.

After the restart, the Villans continued to threaten the City defence and Bradley Burrowes forced Oliver Whatmuff into an athletic reflex save to deny the hosts a third goal.

City’s Reigan Heskey fires in a shot as the Blues look to find a way back into the game

Heskey proved to be a shining example for the visitors, and was a consistent threat throughout the fixture but struggled to find the cutting edge to reduce the deficit.

Jimloh-Aloba gave Villa a cushion when he extended their lead in the 66th minute. After advancing into a dangerous area, his well-drilled strike from distance found the bottom corner.

Teddie Bloomfield then denied Warhurst a second goal, as with Proctor beaten, he enabled the effort did not give the visitors a route back into the game.

Despite City’s best efforts to get forward and chase a goal back, Villa defended as a team when they needed too and held firm to add another FA Youth Cup to their trophy cabinet.

The Villa squad celebrate at full time

Aston Villa: 1 Sam Proctor (GK), 2 Triston Rowe, 3 Rodrigo Fortes, 4 T J Carroll, 5 Leon Routh, 6 Aidan Borland, 7 Bradley Burrowes, 8 George Hemmings, 9 Mason Cotcher, 10 Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, 11 Cole Brannigan.

Substitutions: 14 Kielan Quinn for Brannigan 72’, 17 Teddie Bloomfield for Fortes 76’, 12 Ashton McWilliams for Jimoh-Aloba 76’, 15 Max Jenner for Cotcher 86’, 18 Trai-varn Mulley for Burrowes 92’.

Substitutions not used: 13 Owen Asemota (GK), 16 Alfie Lynskey.

Head coach: Jimmy Shan

Manchester City: 1 Oliver Whatmuff (GK), 2 Harrison Parker, 3 Kian Noble, 4 Stephen Mfuni, 5 Kaden Braithwaite, 6 Harrison Miles, 7 Christian Dunbar-McDonald, 8 Finlay Gorman, 9 Matty Warhurst, 10 Divine Mukasa, 11 Reigan Heskey.

Substitutions: Henderson-Hall for Dunbar-McDonald 46’, Finlay Gorman for Floyd Samba 66’, 17 Rhys Thomas for Harrison Miles 72’, 12 Luca Fletcher for Kaden Braithwaite 76’.

Substitutions not used: 13 Max Hudson (GK), 14 Kylan Midwood,16 Leke Drake.

Head coach: Oliver Reiss