Aston Villa have announced that Ashley Young has signed a new one-year contract.
The England man returned to the Premier League last summer for a second spell and was due to leave this summer after his previous contract expired. But he has signed a new one-year deal that will see him remain at Villa Park until the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
The 36-year-old has enjoyed a glittering career at the top level of football, winning silverware with Manchester United and Inter Milan under Antonio Conte.
After signing the deal, Young said that the ambition of the team manager Steven Gerrard helped him to decide to stay.
“It was the ambition of the club, the manager, the staff and the players as well,” he told the club’s official website.
“I got to know the staff and the players really well last season, and I wasn’t ready to go into retirement just yet.
“When I spoke to the manager towards the end of the season, he told me what he thought about me and that he wanted me to stay.
“He was a massive factor.”
Asked about Gerrard’s time at Villa Park, Young said: “I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s been a good journey, a bit up and down last season, but when a new manager comes in halfway through the season, it’s going to be tough.
“It was tough at times, but we had good times as well, and that was a factor in it. His ambition is to get us back into Europe, where I believe the club should be.
“That was a massive draw for me. I’ve enjoyed every minute of working with the manager and I’m delighted to have signed another year to continue working with him.”
Young made 25 appearances last season for Villa, including 10 Premier League starts. His versatility and experience will be crucial for Gerrard. And Young says. The 37-year-old was used in many positions by Gerrard, including left-back, central midfield, left-wing, right-back and right-wing.
