Rory Wilson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 January 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Aston Villa | ||
| Number | 57 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014–2022 | Rangers | ||
| 2022–2026 | Aston Villa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2026– | Aston Villa | 0 | (0) |
| 2026 | → Sturm Graz (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2026 | → Sturm Graz II (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2023 | Scotland U17 | 13 | (14) |
| 2023– | Scotland U19 | 10 | (3) |
| 2022– | Scotland U21 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:36, 26 April 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10:44, 16 July 2024 (UTC) | |||
Rory Wilson (born 5 January 2006) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa. Wilson has featured for Villa's U18 and U21 sides since joining the Birmingham club from the Rangers Academy in the summer of 2022.
Club career
[edit]Early life and Rangers
[edit]Born in Girvan, Wilson joined the academy of Scottish side Rangers at the age of eight.[2][3] He progressed well through the academy, scoring 49 goals in the 2021–22 season and being called up to the 'B' team at the age of fifteen.[3] He made one substitute appearance for the B team in the 2021–22 season, in a 2–0 Lowland Football League loss to East Stirlingshire.[4]
Aston Villa
[edit]In June 2022, it was reported that English side Aston Villa were interested in signing Wilson.[5] As he was contracted to Rangers until December 2022, the Ibrox club demanded a fee for the transfer.[6] However, Aston Villa claimed that, as Wilson had not signed a professional deal with Rangers, and was only contracted on amateur terms, he was free to sign with them for a low training compensation fee.[6]
Wilson had signed an amateur contract with Rangers in December 2019; a rolling, three-year deal that would have fallen under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA had he decided to move to a fellow Scottish club.[6] However, as a move to Aston Villa was classified as an international transfer, international governing body FIFA's rules supersede those of national football associations.[6] As the two clubs valuations for Wilson differed, the transfer fee would have been decided by FIFA.[6][7]
After negotiations between the two clubs resumed, a reported deal worth a minimum of £350,000 was agreed, and Wilson joined Aston Villa in July 2022.[8][9]
On 6 January 2023, Wilson's 17th birthday, he signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa.[10] After joining Villa, Wilson's goal scoring form continued. For the Villa Academy, Wilson netted hat-tricks against Liverpool and Brentford in the U17 Premier League Cup and FA Youth Cup respectively.[citation needed] On 7 April 2025, Wilson signed a contract extension with Aston Villa.[11]
Sturm Graz loan
[edit]On 6 February 2026, Wilson signed for Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz on loan until the end of the season.[12] Wilson made his debut for Sturm Graz II in the 2. Liga in March 2026.[13]
International career
[edit]Wilson has represented Scotland at youth international level.[14] In September 2022, Wilson stated he was "shocked" after being called up to the Scotland under-21 side.[15][16]
Wilson debuted against Wales for the Under-17 side in 2021 and has since represented Scotland Under-17's in numerous friendly matches, European Championship qualifiers and European Championship finals matches. He has scored more goals than has made appearances for the Under-17s and has since made 2 appearances for the Under-21's.
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of 26 April 2026[17]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rangers B | 2021–22 | Lowland Football League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Aston Villa U21 | 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 2023–24 | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 2024–25 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 2025–26 | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Sturm Graz (loan) | 2025–26 | Austrian Bundesliga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Sturm Graz II (loan) | 2025–26 | 2. Liga | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
- Notes
- 1 2 3 Appearances in the EFL Trophy
Honours
[edit]Aston Villa U21s
- Birmingham Senior Cup: 2023-24[18]
References
[edit]- ↑ https://www.whoscored.com/players/438793/show/rory-wilson
- ↑ Atkinson, Mark (4 July 2022). "'Our preference': Rory Wilson exits Rangers for Aston Villa as Ibrox club comments on transfer". scotsman.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- 1 2 Lindsay, Matthew (19 June 2022). "Aston Villa new boy Rory Wilson branded 'best striker at his age in Europe' after £350,000 Rangers transfer". glasgowtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ↑ "Match Report: Rangers 0–2 East Stirlingshire". rangers.co.uk. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ↑ Pirie, Mark (13 June 2022). "Who is Rory Wilson? Rangers top striking prospect at the centre of FIFA dispute with Aston Villa in focus". dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Campbell, Jordan; Evans, Gregg (14 June 2022). "Explained: Aston Villa, Rangers and a row over the best young Scottish talent". theathletic.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022. (subscription required)
- ↑ Maher, Matt (15 June 2022). "Fifa could rule on Aston Villa swoop for Rangers wonderkid Rory Wilson". shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ↑ Campbell, Jordan (17 June 2022). "Aston Villa move closer to signing Rangers striker Rory Wilson". theathletic.com. Retrieved 14 November 2022. (subscription required)
- ↑ "Villa confirm Wilson signing". avfc.co.uk. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ↑ "Rory Wilson signs pro contract with Villa". Aston Villa Football Club. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ↑ "Rory Wilson signs new contract". Aston Villa Football Club. 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ↑ "Rory Wilson joins Sturm Graz on loan". Aston Villa Football Club. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ "Rory Wilson Stats | Soccerway". www.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ↑ Rory Wilson at WorldFootball.net
- ↑ Reis, Bruna (25 September 2022). "Aston Villa starlet admits 'shock' at international honour". birminghammail.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ↑ Banks, Ben (25 September 2022). "Rory Wilson savours post-Rangers joy as Aston Villa starlet 'shocked' by international honour". glasgowlive.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ↑ Rory Wilson at Soccerway
- ↑ "BSC: Aston Villa 9-0 Racing Club Warwick". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
External links
[edit]- Under-17 profile at the Scottish Football Association
- Under-21 profile at the Scottish Football Association
- Profile at Aston Villa
- 2006 births
- Living people
- People from Girvan
- Scottish men's footballers
- Scotland men's youth international footballers
- Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Lowland Football League players
- Rangers F.C. players
- Aston Villa F.C. players
- Footballers from South Ayrshire
- 21st-century Scottish sportsmen
- Scottish expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Austria
- Scottish expatriate sportspeople in Austria
- SK Sturm Graz players