Veteran former England international Ashley Young is reportedly likely to join the Blues this summer.

Young, who turned 40 earlier this month, is a free agent having been released by Everton at the end of the season after two years at Goodison Park. Despite his age, he made 36 appearances last season.

According to TalkSPORT, the right-sided full-back or winger had been interesting Watford, where he started his career and where he might have been named captain, but his wage demands didn’t fit into their structure and he is now likely to join the Blues.


Earlier in the summer, rumours circulated that Young was on Town’s radar with a player-coach role mooted, Lee Grant having left the backroom staff to take over as Huddersfield boss.

Meanwhile, TWTD understands Young’s son Tyler has been among the trialists featuring for the U21s in pre-season. The 19-year-old was released by Peterborough at the end of last season.

Young senior, who if he completes his move will become the club’s oldest ever signing, made his breakthrough with the Hornets in 2003 having been at the club since he was 10.

Capped by England 39 times, scoring seven goals, Stevenage-born moved on to Aston Villa in 2007 and then Manchester United four years later and was at the club after Kieran McKenna had been promoted to the first-team staff.

A spell at Inter Milan, then a return to Aston Villa following prior to joining Everton in July 2023.

Speaking when McKenna was in discussions with Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United last summer, Young was full of praise for the Northern Irishman.

“I think he's got everything to be a top, top manager,” he told TalkSPORT. “I worked with him at Manchester United and saw how much passion he’s got for football, the love he’s got for football and just how he wants to be successful.

“He’s seen as one of those managers. At Ipswich they want to play football, they want to be expansive, they want to get on the front foot.

“Obviously, he's younger than me, he's just one of those coaches that wants to be successful. He’s got everything there to be a successful manager, no disrespect to Ipswich, at a bigger club.”

Photo: MI News via Reuters Connect

algarvefan added 15:14 - Jul 21 The Finidi George comment was comedy gold, although 73 was a bit of a stretch!!! I think this is excellent, widely experienced, good cover and good experience for young players to learn from him. Hope it happens.
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ringwoodblue added 15:26 - Jul 21 I really don’t understand the logic behind this move. We have lost a lot of leadership and experience over the summer in Mass and Sam who still have lots of playing years ahead of them but we want to bring in someone who is in the very twilight of their playing career instead. If that’s the case, how come we didn’t bring in Aaron Cresswell who is familiar with the club and has a few more playing years in him than Young? Obviously I don’t know the club’s rationale for exploring this but it sounds like another Richard Keogh to me.

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PhuketPete added 17:11 - Jul 21 The armchair knockers and moaners here never cease to amaze.
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