Born in England and of Nigerian descent, Jimoh-Aloba has already shown he can combine technical quality with a calm temperament under pressure.
His family were present in the stands at Villa Park to witness the teenager’s European debut, a moment he described as “proud” and “special,” telling TNT Sports: “Really nice to make my family proud. I’ve had a lot of lows this season and a lot of highs but this is top. My mum is in the stand somewhere.”
What a turnaround for @AVFCOfficial 🙌
19-year-old Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba scores the winner in a 3-2 victory over RB Salzburg but have to settle for second in the Europa League league phase pic.twitter.com/1dTaLgadUx
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 29, 2026
Teammate Amadou Onana joined in pushing Jimoh-Aloba towards the Holte End for a series of fist-bump celebrations, met by roaring approval from the home fans.
Rising from the academy ranks
Jimoh-Aloba joined Aston Villa from West Brom in 2023 at the age of 16, already capped by England at Under-16 and Under-17 level.
He made his senior debut as a substitute in a Carabao Cup win at Wycombe in September 2024 and was included in the Premier League squad against Leicester a year ago.
His rise through the club has been marked by key contributions in youth competitions, including scoring in Villa’s FA Youth Cup final victory over Manchester City last season.
Seizing opportunities in tough circumstances
With senior midfielders Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, and Youri Tielemans sidelined, Emery handed 18-year-old George Hemmings his full Villa debut while academy graduate Kadan Young also featured.
Unai Emery praised the young players’ performances, highlighting the club’s structured approach to developing talent: “It’s very important to have chances to play the young players, the opportunity for them to show their progress. We have a plan with them… every day training with us and then in official matches like today.”
Praise from peers
England playmaker Morgan Rogers, who came through West Brom’s academy alongside Jimoh-Aloba, noted the teenager’s potential and temperament: “He’s probably a bit shy and nervous, but he shows his quality in training.
“He was focused the moment he came on, and it was a really nice moment for him. I’ve taken a shine to him. He’s a really nice kid and we like when we train with him and want him to do well.”
A promising trajectory
Jimoh-Aloba’s league debut came just last month in a 4-1 loss at Arsenal, and he also featured in Villa’s Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford in September.
His late winner against Salzburg suggests a player capable of stepping up when it matters most. With Europe’s attention now on him, the teenager is poised to become a key figure for Aston Villa, combining academy-bred technical skill, international experience at youth level, and the temperament to thrive on the big stage.
