Ashley Young: profile

Telegraph Sport charts Ashley Young's career to date, from Watford to Manchester United...

Moving on: Ashley Young has joined Man Utd on a five-year deal Photo: PA

By Telegraph staff and agencies

2:47PM BST 23 Jun 2011 

1985: July 9 - Born in Stevenage.

2000: Joins Watford as a youth player.

2002: Offered professional terms at Vicarage Road.

2003: Sept 13 - Makes Watford debut, scoring as second-half substitute against Millwall. Young also scored in his next game against Derby, again as a replacement.

2005: Aug 9 - Scores first brace for Watford against Plymouth in the second game of the season after failing to find the net in the 2004/05 season.

2006: Jan 1 - Handed first senior red card against Luton.

Feb - Called up to England Under-21 Football League squad by boss Peter Taylor.

May 6 - Scores in the Championship play-off semi-final against Crystal Palace, before playing 90 minutes in the 3-0 final victory over Leeds.

Sept - Called up to full England Under-21 squad, scoring in his first appearance against Switzerland.

Oct 2 - Scores first Premier League goals, hitting the target twice in Watford's 3-3 draw with Fulham.

2007: Jan 18 - Given permission to speak to Aston Villa about a possible transfer after the clubs agree a fee of which could rise to £9.65 million. West Ham had earlier had a similar offer accepted but Young turned down the move.

Jan 20 - Young agrees to move to Villa Park.

Jan 31 - Scores against Newcastle on Villa debut.

June - Part of the England Under-21 squad for the European Championship in Holland, scores twice in a dramatic penalty shootout as England eventually lose 13-12 to the hosts in the semi-finals.

Aug 31 - Included in England squad for matches against Russia and Israel.

Nov 16 - Makes his England debut as a half-time replacement in a friendly against Austria.

2008: May - Is the only player outfield player outside the 'Big Four' to be selected in the Premier League team of the year.

Dec 7 - Scores two goals in Villa's 3-2 win over Everton and is hailed as "world class" and a "genius" by manager Martin O'Neill. Wins the player of the month award to make him the first player to win three in a year.

2009: April - Named PFA Young Player of the Year.

July 26 - Says he wants to remain at Villa despite attracting attention from the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea.

Aug 12 - Makes his first England start in the 2-2 draw with Holland in Amsterdam.

2010: May 11 - Fails to make Fabio Capello's preliminary squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

Oct 12 - Makes first competitive start for England in 0-0 draw with Montenegro at Wembley.

Oct 22 - Tells Aston Villa he will not sign a new deal before the summer.

2011: May 13 - Says he wants to win trophies as speculation continues to link him with a move away from Villa Park.

June 23 - Signs five-year deal with Manchester United after the Old Trafford club agreed an undisclosed fee with Villa.