Back in April, Aston Villa Under 18s demolished Newcastle United 6-1 in the FA Youth Cup to earn a place in the semi-final of the competition, with 17-year-old midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka scoring a hat-trick.
That performance is what made everyone stand up and take notice of his potential.
The young star has been enjoying a burgeoning reputation due to his exploits in the youth set up of the Villans, but after refusing to sign a new contract with the club, various elite sides could attempt to bring him in.
So, what kind of player is he, and what can we expect from him in the future?
What position does Carney Chukwuemeka play in?
Chukwuemeka is usually deployed as a central midfielder though can play slightly further forward.
How good is Carney Chukwuemeka?
At the moment it seems like the sky is the limit for Chukwuemeka as he would appear to possess all the talent necessary to go far.
He is composed on the ball, can pick a pass from midfield, and is extremely athletic, which allows him to continually heap pressure on the opposition with his pressing, should he be asked.
However, his greatest talent is arguably his shooting as two of his goals in the aforementioned game against Newcastle last season were of the highest quality.
His first came via a neat dribble into the box followed by a curled effort into the top corner, while the second was placed perfectly into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Aston Villa director Christian Purslow previously described Chukwuemeka as the best player in the country in his age group when he was 16.
“The ultimate goal is to populate the under-23 team with 11 outstanding 16, 17 and 18-year-olds, then I will know it’s working,” the Villa chief executive said on a fans forum 12 months ago.
“And that will take years, not months. We need to be higher in recruiting the best eight-year-old, nine-year-old, 10-year-old, 11-year-old, 12-year-old, 14, 16, one a year that makes it and gets a professional contract at 16.
“I want that player. We have one right now, probably the best 16-year-old in England, Carney (Chukwuemeka). Absolutely no debate, he’s starting for the under-23s.”
What clubs are interested in Carney Chukwuemeka?
According to the Birmingham Mail; Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Juventus have all scouted Chukwuemeka at one point over the past year.
Liverpool's interest is apparently now the most concrete and the Reds believe it will now be easier to sign him as the player has refused to sign a new deal at Villa.
He has not been given a lot of first team opportunities, and wants to leave for more playing time, even if that isn't until 2023.
When does Carney Chukwuemeka’s contract expire?
Chukwuemeka has a contract until 2023.
What age is Carney Chukwuemeka
Chukwuemeka was born on 23 October 2003. He is 18.
What height is Carney Chukwuemeka
Chukwuemeka is 182cm, or around 5ft 9in.
What weight is Carney Chukwuemeka
Chukwuemeka weighs 70 kilograms, or around 11 stone.
What football boots does Carney Chukwuemeka wear
Chukwuemeka wears Adidas X Speedflow.1 soccer cleats.
What is Carney Chukwuemeka’s Instagram?
Chukwuemeka’s Instagram account has 50k followers as of April 2021.
Who is Carney Chukwuemeka’s girlfriend?
Chukwuemeka is currently not dating anyone publicly.