Gabriel Imuetinyan Agbonlahor (born October 13, 1986 in Erdington, Birmingham) is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa of the Premier League. He is of half-Nigerian and half-Scottish descent, from his father and mother respectively. Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa`s Academy system.

Agbonlahor was first noticed playing for local side Great Barr Falcons[5], where his quick pace brought him success as a young teenager. He was spotted by boyhood team Aston Villa.

In the 2002–03 season, playing his first season for the Aston Villa Academy, Agbonlahor notched an impressive nine goals in 18 appearances. He followed this up with a tally of 35 goals in 29 games in the 2003–04 season[6], a feat which was comparable to Darius Vassell`s 38 goals in the 1997–98 season. With Agbonlahor showing promise for the Youth team, he made more of an impact for the Reserves in the 2004–05 season, although he still bagged 18 goals in 22 games to bring his youth record to 71 appearances and 62 goals.

He made a good impression for Aston Villa`s Youth team in 2005 at the U-20 International Football Challenge in Adelaide, Australia. Agbonlahor netted in the opening match, a 2–0 victory over AIS, before scoring in the 2–2 draw against A.C. Milan—which Aston Villa won on penalties—and once in the 4–1 demolition of Tokyo Verdy. He subsequently scored two goals in the final against Team S.A, in a match that was won 5–0.

Agbonlahor made 37 appearances for the reserves between 2003 and 2006, scoring 19 times, most notably a hat-trick against American goalkeeper Tim Howard in a 3–0 defeat of Manchester United Reserves. He also captained an Aston Villa team in the 2006 HKFC Philips Lighting International Soccer Sevens, he was named "Player of the Tournament" as Aston Villa finished Runners-Up to Urawa Red Diamonds.

His first taste of first-team action came in October 2005 when he went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday for two months, being signed by Paul Sturrock to cover for his striker injuries.

Agbonlahor was given his Premiership début on 18 March 2006, against Everton at Goodison Park. He scored on his début after 63 minutes, although Villa went on to lose the match 4–1.

In five pre-season games of the 2006–07 season, Agbonlahor netted four goals in five games for Aston Villa. After netting a quick double salvo against Walsall (the first a near-post header, the latter a close range finish) in a 5–0 victory.[8] Agbonlahor also netted in the second match of Aston Villa`s tour against NEC Nijmegen, which turned out to be a consolation goal, in a 2–1 victory for NEC Nijmegen.[9]

Agbonlahor started the season on the right wing in Martin O`Neill`s new look Villa side, and would be part of the team that managed a get a point from the first Premiership game at Arsenal`s new Emirates Stadium.[10] Agbonlahor`s first goal of the season came at home against Charlton Athletic, in a 2–0 win.[11] On 30 September, Agbonlahor scored a crucial equaliser against Premiership champions Chelsea just before half-time, heading in Liam Ridgewell`s cross with a glancing header to earn Villa a hard-earned 1–1 draw.[12]

Agbonlahor also provided cup heroics in 2006, scoring an extra-time injury time winner to beat Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium, by a score of three goals to two.[13] The following game, he scored a consolation effort in Villa`s first loss of the season, on 28 October, ten games in.[14]

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