Aston Villa’s Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba emerged as the unlikely hero with a late goal that secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League on October 26, 2023. The 19-year-old’s decisive strike not only marked his European debut but also helped Villa secure a second-place finish in the league phase of the tournament.
Jimoh-Aloba, who had come off the bench in the 66th minute, netted the crucial winner just three minutes before the final whistle. His goal followed a determined effort from the team, with Tyrone Mings and Morgan Rogers having already contributed to the comeback after Villa was down 2-0 early in the second half. Celebrating with his teammates, Jimoh-Aloba was pushed towards the Holte End by Amadou Onana, where he was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from the home crowd.
“It’s a proud moment for me on my European debut,” Jimoh-Aloba told TNT Sports. “Really nice to make my family proud. I’ve had a lot of lows this season and a lot of highs but this is top. My mum is in the stand somewhere.”
Teammate and playmaker Morgan Rogers, who trained alongside Jimoh-Aloba in the West Bromwich Albion academy, expressed confidence in the young player’s potential. “It’s a really nice moment for him,” Rogers stated to BBC Sport. “He works hard in training and gives his all. He is probably a bit shy and nervous more than I’d like, but he shows his quality in training.”
Rogers highlighted Jimoh-Aloba’s focus during the match and his need to remain engaged as he develops. “Sometimes he can get a bit disengaged – that’s where you can probably lose it,” he explained. “He was focused the moment he came on, and it was a really nice moment for him.”
With key players Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, and Youri Tielemans sidelined due to injury, Villa’s manager Unai Emery took the opportunity to field younger talent. George Hemmings, an 18-year-old midfielder, made his full debut, and Kadan Young, another academy graduate, also featured in the match.
Emery emphasized the importance of providing young players with opportunities to showcase their skills. “It’s very important to have chances to play the young players,” he noted. “I think they did a very good job. We have a plan with them. We need to protect them when they are playing and get a plan in their development as players.”
Jimoh-Aloba joined Aston Villa from West Brom in 2023 at the age of 16, already holding caps for the England Under-16 and Under-17 teams. He made his senior debut as a substitute during the Carabao Cup win against Wycombe in September 2024 and was included in Villa’s Premier League squad against Leicester City a year ago. His journey continued with a long-term contract signed in October 2024, during which he played a pivotal role in helping Villa lift the FA Youth Cup, scoring in the final against Manchester City.
The young talent’s league debut came just last month during a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, and he also participated in the Carabao Cup loss to Brentford in September. With a promising start to his career, Jimoh-Aloba’s performance against Salzburg has set high expectations for his future at Aston Villa and in European football.
