BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — American defender Eric Lichaj has signed a new three-year contract with English Premier League club Aston Villa.
The 21-year-old fullback has not played for the Villa first team despite being with the club for three years but earned the contract with his performances in preseason exhibitions, including one against Valencia.
Lichaj says “hopefully when I start playing here I can get into the USA team. That would be nice.”
An Illinois native who spent one season at the University of North Carolina, Lichaj has played for the U.S. Under-17 team. His only professional action in England came on loan last season at fourth-tier Lincoln and then third-tier Leyton Orient.
American goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan are also at Villa, which is owned by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner.
