Norwich City secure English underage international Ben Chrisene from Aston Villa

Norwich City have confirmed the acquisition of England Under-20 international Ben Chrisene from Aston Villa.

The young defender has committed to a four-year contract, with an additional one-year option, and will immediately integrate into Johannes Hoff Thorup's squad ahead of the upcoming season.

Chrisene, a left-sided defender, began his career at Exeter City before moving to Aston Villa in 2020. At just 15, he made five senior appearances for Exeter's first team.

During his tenure at Villa, Chrisene had limited senior opportunities, making only one appearance but gaining valuable experience on loan at Kilmarnock and Blackburn Rovers. His international career includes representing England from Under-15 to Under-20 levels.

This summer, Chrisene played for England’s Under-20s alongside future Norwich teammates Brad Hills, Abu Kamara, and Kellen Fisher.

Expressing his enthusiasm about joining Norwich, Chrisene said, "I'm excited to be here and to get started. The project and new direction are really exciting for me and the whole club. I’ve spoken to the head coach about what he wants to do. I’m really looking forward to working with him. I feel I’ve still got a lot to learn but hopefully it gels pretty quickly and we can hit the ground running."

Sporting director Ben Knapper praised Chrisene's potential, stating, "Ben is an exciting young player with a lot of room for development. Physically, he has all the attributes of a modern full-back. Under Johannes' guidance and our coaching staff, we believe he can make significant strides and become a key part of our squad. We’re delighted to welcome Ben to our first-team group and look forward to seeing his contributions."

View all the latest transfer stories from the League of Ireland and beyond