Aston Villa has announced a new collaborative partnership with Japanese club Vissel Kobe aimed at enhancing youth development alongside the sharing of ideas, techniques, and practice. The clubs will exchange technical knowledge and coaching methodology and collaborate in the areas of performance, scouting and recruitment, data analysis, and overall squad management. The partnership will also look to further open up pathways for Japanese players to play in Europe. A delegation from Kobe will visit the club to mark the start of the partnership and two of Vissel Kobe’s Under-16 players will train with the Villa Academy for the duration of the visit. The new partnership will also see a Villa Academy team travel to Japan in 2024 to take part in an international tournament. Villa ranks fifth among the English Premier League teams and will meet in the next round with West Ham United next Sunday. Kobe, the leaders of the Japanese League, will meet Kashima Antlers next Saturday.