Ajani Alexander Edward Burchall (born 5 November 2004) is Bermudian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League team Aston Villa. He is a product of the North Village Rams youth team in Hamilton, Bermuda, and was signed by AFC Bournemouth at the age of eleven. He became Bournemouth's third youngest player of all time when he appeared for their senior side as a late substitute in December 2020, he transferred to Aston Villa six months later, joining their academy. He has played internationally at under-15 level for the Bermuda.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ajani Alexander Edward Burchall[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2004-11-05) 5 November 2004 (age 17)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Hamilton, Bermuda | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Aston Villa | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2016 | North Village Rams | ||
| 2016–2020 | AFC Bournemouth | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | AFC Bournemouth | 1 | (0) |
| 2021– | Aston Villa | 0 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2018–2019 | Bermuda U15 | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:06, 9 July 2021 (UTC) | |||
Burchall was born in Bermuda and joined AFC Bournemouth in 2016 from the youth side of North Village Rams, based near Hamilton, Bermuda.[3] In March 2019, at the age of 14, he signed a pre-scholarship agreement with the club.[4] On 12 December 2020, he made his professional debut in the Championship, coming on as a late substitute in a 5–0 win over Huddersfield Town.[5] The appearance made him Bournemouth's third youngest player of all time.[6]
On 9 July 2021, Burchall joined Premier League club Aston Villa for an undisclosed transfer fee.[7] In October 2021, after a positive start for Villa in the U18 Premier League in which he scored three goals, and provided three assists in his first four games, Burchall was named by The Guardian as one of the top young prospects in English football.[8] On 10 November 2021, Burchall was given his first full professional contract by Aston Villa.[9]
In August 2022, Burchall suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a training session - which was expected to rule him out for the whole season.[10]
Burchall has represented Bermuda at under-15 level, playing for them in the 2019 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship.[11]
Burchall grew up in the Paget Parish of Bermuda.[12] He attended Bournemouth Collegiate School.[3]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| AFC Bournemouth | 2020–21 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Aston Villa F.C. – current squad | |
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