Young defender Yasin Ozcan admits he almost cried when he learned that Aston Villa had completed the signing to bring him to the Premier League this coming summer. Teenager Ozcan, who is an academy product of Turkish Super Lig side Kasimpasa, has remained a regular in the side for the last couple of years despite being only 18.
In those 83 senior appearances - in which Ozcan, despite operating as a defender, has produced ten goal contributions - the youngster has suitably impressed and has drawn the interest of Villa, who have shown that they're willing to cast their nets far and wide in their search for young talent around Europe and further afield.
Like Kosta Nedeljkovic, who joined a little over a year ago before finally arriving from Red Star Belgrade last summer, Ozcan agreed to join Villa in the January transfer window before flying out to Bodymoor Heath to complete the deal and return to Turkey for the remainder of this season.
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Ozcan himself was nearly moved to tears when learning of Villa's interest and bid, believed to be in the region of £7m. While he concedes that for he and his family a period of adjustment will be required as he beds into his new surroundings and new culture, the teenager can't wait to get started.
"I was dreaming of being transferred to the English Premier League and I believed in it," Ozcan told " target="_blank" class="link"> beIN Sports Turkiye. "My manager told me that I would be transferred to Aston Villa, the agreement between the two clubs was completed and that the meetings were done.
"When I first heard, I was incredibly happy, I almost cried. My mother cried a little. My family was with me, too. When it happened, it felt like it had to be a joke. I couldn't sleep that night until almost the morning. Everyone in the team was proud.
"It will be difficult for my family, too. They will be going abroad for the first time. They know that they might have some problems with food, a little bit with the language, so there is some anxiety but it can be solved.
"Physically, I work every day. I go in an hour before training, I work again after training for an hour. I read books for my mental development and I am taking English language training with a private teacher. They [Villa] expect and want to see me as a player who plays the best in a stopper tandem, where they will see me so powerfully on the pitch."
Ozcan met with Unai Emery upon his visit over to Birmingham. The Villa boss was quick to instruct his newest signing that he must get up to speed with the English language in order to settle in more quickly alongside his teammates and the staff at the club.
Emery will also be pleased to hear that Ozcan has been working extra hard on his physique, as advised, in order to best prepare himself for the more rigorous demands of English football before he joins in pre-season training.
"I met Unai," he added. "The first thing he said was to learn the language well, then he said to work hard now because, when you come here, we want to see you ready. I think he can have a great impact on me because he has produced great footballers - Jhon Duran as an example. He played in Emery's system and went for a very high transfer fee. Emery is a very good coach and I am sure he'll have a very good effect on me."
He added of his ambitions: "First of all I want to play for Aston Villa. I want to win cups there and then my goal is the national team - I want to represent my country in the best way - but for now my future is completely with Aston Villa."
