Harrison had been in charge of the Baggies academy for the past 13 years and responsible for helping produce players including Saido Berahino, Izzy Brown and Tyler Roberts.

He will now be tasked with doing the same for Villa after agreeing a switch across the Midlands.

Harrison replaces Sean Kimberley, who has left his role as the club’s academy director.

Villa chief executive Christian Purslow said: “Aston Villa is a football club steeped in a rich tradition of producing its own players.

“Mark’s appointment is another cornerstone of the process and journey that we set out upon last summer.

“As a football club, we want a clear pathway right through the academy to the first-team with outstanding recruitment and development.

“I have every confidence that Mark, working closely with Dean Smith and Jesus Garcia Pitarch, will build an excellent academy that will be able to nurture the next generation of stars to entertain the crowds at Villa Park.”