Player #940 for Aston Villa, Cameron Archer, played as a centre forward for the club in the 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

Cameron was born in Walsall on 21 July 2001 and made his debut appearance in the Villa squad at the age of 18 on Tuesday, 27 August 2019 in the 6-1 EFL Cup win at Crewe Alexandra in which he also made his playing debut.

Villa had signed Archer to professional forms in July 2018 at the age of 16, having been with the club since the age of 6.

Described as a live-wire forward with excellent footwork and the ability to find the back of the net, Archer was limited to just the one appearance in 2019-20 but remained highly rated by the club as a first-team player of the future.

Ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, Dean Smith sent Archer out on loan to Solihull Moors to gain game time through to January 2021.

Archer made 10 appearances for Solihull, including six starts and has scored two and assisted one, including a brilliant solo run from his own half to set up Jordan Cranston in the FA Cup tie with Morcambe. Following his impressive showings, Moors extended Cameron’s loan to the end of the season, and in doing so, Archer was unavailable to be selected for the youth squad that Villa famously fielded in the FA Cup vs. Liverpool on Friday, 8 January 2021.

Archer would have to wait two years for his second Villa appearance, once again in the EFL Cup, this time versus Barrow, against whom he scored his first goals in a Villa shirt - a hat-trick in an impressive performance in a 6-0 win.

Although the opposition was lower league, Archer played in the following round, this time against Chelsea, scored once again and was equally impressive in his showing despite Villa missing out on penalties.

That however, would prove to be Archer’s final goal for Villa despite playing a further three games in 2021-22 - all in the Premier League, and seven in 2022-23.

Archer was sent out on loan in January 2022 to Preston North End 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 before joining Middlesbrough twelve months later for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.

Archer made his final appearance as a substitute in the 4-0 win over Everton on 20 August 2023, one of only two appearances under Unai Emery ahead of his move to Sheffield United 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 for €21.55m.

Villa had inserted a relegation clause in the deal allowing them to buy back Archer, which they duly did so in July 2024 for €16.65m before once again moving Archer on to Southampton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 for €17.60m the following month.