---
title: "Aston Villa: Ashley Preece reacts to Tommi O’Reilly contract"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-ashley-preece-reacts-to-tommi-oreilly-contract/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-03-16T12:15:24Z"
modified: "2022-03-16T12:15:24Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Ashley Preece reacts to Tommi O’Reilly contract

**Aston Villa correspondent [Ashley Preece](https://twitter.com/PreeceObserver/status/1503401434934652931) has been reacting to Tommi O’Reilly signing his first senior contract with the club.**

### The Lowdown: O’Reilly’s professional deal

O’Reilly is just 18 years of age and plays [primarily](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tommi-oreilly/profil/spieler/818237) as an attacking midfielder who can also turn out in a deeper role or on the right.

\[freshpress-poll id=”390645″\]

The left-footed youngster has made [18](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tommi-oreilly/leistungsdaten/spieler/818237) appearances in all competitions this season, scoring [five](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tommi-oreilly/leistungsdaten/spieler/818237) times and registering [two](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tommi-oreilly/leistungsdaten/spieler/818237) assists.

His displays for both the Under-18s and Under-23s have seemingly caught the eye of Steven Gerrard, who named the midfielder [on the bench](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tommi-oreilly/leistungsdaten/spieler/818237) against Brighton and Southampton in recent weeks.

The club [confirmed](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/march/14/o-reilly-signs-professional-contract/) on Monday that O’Reilly has signed a long-term contract, with academy manager Mark Harrison labelling it as [‘really important’](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/march/14/o-reilly-signs-professional-contract/).

### The Latest: Preece reacts

[Preece](https://twitter.com/PreeceObserver/status/1503401434934652931) took to Twitter on Monday afternoon to react to the news of O’Reilly’s contract.

> “Go on, the boy! Well done, Tommi. Fully deserved!”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375426″\]

### The Verdict: Good news

Villa have recently reaped the rewards of a midfielder breaking through the academy and into the first team in Jacob Ramsey, and it seems as if O’Reilly could well be the next.

Gerrard is clearly a fan of the player after naming him in the match-day squad for two successive Premier League games, and who knows, if he continues to impress at Bodymoor Heath, the manager may be tempted to hand him more first-team opportunities before the season comes to a close.

***In other news: [Surgery needed – Journalist drops even more Villa injury news after Digne on ‘unselfish’ regular.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-douglas-luiz-set-to-have-surgery/)***