Aston Villa sign Finnish teenager

Aston Villa have beaten off interest from a pack of leading clubs - including Manchester United and Arsenal - to sign Finnish…

Aston Villa have beaten off interest from a pack of leading clubs - including Manchester United and Arsenal - to sign Finnish teenage striker Mika Aaritalo from TPS Turku for an undisclosed fee.

And Villa boss Graham Taylor is also interested in another Scandinavian player, Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom.

Aaritalo has put pen to paper on a three-year contract after moving for an undisclosed fee and he will link up with Villa in January when the transfer window reopens.

The 17-year-old, who was also a target for Feyenoord and other Dutch clubs, has scored 19 goals at youth team level for his club this season and is already a Finnish youth international.

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Villa have been charting his progress since their Finnish scout Dave Wilson first became aware of his potential two years ago.

Taylor said: "I am pleased to say we've been able to beat all the others for his signature. Normally when you sign boys of this age you do not get a lot of publicity but we have had to fight off some big competition for his signature.

"He is a very talented boy. He has things in his make up that you are normally trying to teach to people at this age.

"I am talking about the runs he makes, his touch and his awareness. Normally you are spending time trying to install those things into 17-year-olds.

"He does a lot of those things naturally and he has a very good left foot."