An up-and-coming young footballer from Worcester has signed with Aston Villa.

Oasis Academy Warndon year three pupil Mika Alexandru will be one of the new faces in the Villains' under nines squad.

He signed his contract with the Premier League team on Monday, May 20, marking a bold new chapter in the his burgeoning career.

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Mika was initially recognised while playing for Oldbury Park Tigers during a tournament.

Despite his promise, he faced a setback when he was released from initial training due to elbow injuries.

Nevertheless, Mika's drive for the sport remained, which saw him catch the eye of scouts from clubs such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City and Coventry City, as well as Villa.

He honed his skills by playing for Solihull Academy on Saturdays and Solihull Moors on Sundays.

Villa scouts Jon Sarriegui and Dave Crowe played a key role in recognising Mika's potential and bringing him back into the scouting limelight.

Mika's dad, Gheorge Madalin Alexandru, said: "We are so proud of Mika.

"He trains really hard and has great ambition at such a young age.

"We are also very thankful to his school, Oasis Academy Warndon, for being so understanding and encouraging when it comes to Mika’s training commitments.

"Mika couldn’t have achieved this without his school’s help.”

The school's principal Suzanne Owen said: "Mika's dedication and passion for football are truly inspiring.

"We are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and the entire academy community will continue to support him."