Nigeria, Aug. 19 -- It's not every day you see a 'Black Japanese' goalkeeper, let alone one in European football or one arriving in the Premier League. In fact, it's almost unheard of. And that's exactly why Aston Villa's newest signing is so fascinating.

Zion was born on 21 August 2002 in Newark, New Jersey, to a Ghanaian father and Japanese mother. His parents named him Zion, inspired by the holy Mount Zion near Jerusalem, before moving to Saitama, Japan while he was still a baby. Although he was born in America, Japan is the only home he's ever really known.

At just 6 years old, he joined the famous Urawa Red Diamonds academy. He wasn't a striker or the flashy kid everyone noticed; he chose the hardest position on the pitch.

By 16 ...