Aston Villa has signed rookie defender Sil Swinkels to a new deal after he overcame a devastating injury.
The 20-year-old has extended his contract with the Claret & Blues, as his current one is set to expire next month. The player just recovered from a knee injury.
The Dutch center back will stay at Bodymoor Heath, though, and he’ll be primed for a successful preseason after playing a key role in the team’s victory in the Birmingham Senior Cup and the Premier League 2 play-offs.
Mark Harrison, the academy manager, told the club website. “We are happy to see Sil sign a new deal. He recovered from his injuries with remarkable resiliency, and his performances have demonstrated a great deal of talent and maturity.
“He is deserving of this new deal because of his excellent attitude. We’re interested to watch his growth throughout the upcoming seasons.
Swinkels came from Vitesse to Villa in the summer of 2020 as a 16-year-old. In January 2021, he participated in the FA Cup against Liverpool as a young member of the first team, and later that year, he secured his first professional contract. Additionally, he was a member of the Under-18 squad that took home the FA Youth Cup in 2021.
He did, however, sustain a knee ligament injury in March 2023, which prevented him from playing until last month.
