Maidstone United defender Ben Swift has agreed to sign for Aston Villa.

Swift, 17, has accepted the Premier League club's offer of a six-month scholarship which could lead to a professional contract.

Liverpool, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion had all expressed interest in taking Swift on trial but having already trained with Villa and played three games for their under-18 side, he decided to return to the West Midlands.

Swift said: "I was buzzing when I first knew that a Premier League club was watching me and that they wanted to take me on trial. I was quite excited and it showed that I was doing well.

"It was a big surprise, to know that a big club like that thought I was good enough to play for them.

"A few other clubs came in and wanted me to go on trial but I thought I'd go with Aston Villa for the six months. If nothing happens, I've lost nothing, but I really hope I get something at the end of it."

Swift and his parents met with Stones academy manager Jack Parkinson and the club's chief executive Bill Williams this week to discuss his future.

Parkinson said: "I think Villa is the best deal for Ben. He's settled in there and he knows what it's all about. If he'd gone somewhere else, he'd have had to start all over again.

"It's fantastic for everyone involved with the club.

"Ben struggled a bit last year, he would beat himself up, but we've seen him come out of that and he's become a really good centre-half.

"He's a nice lad and he'd do anything for you, which is why we made him captain.

"He's so helpful and when you've got a lad like that, you want him to do well."

Read the full story in the Kent Messenger on Friday.