Aston Villa have entered a partnership with US soccer club Pacesetters.

The agreement will see the team - Pacesetter Villa Super 20 - wear official Villa kit for their inaugural season, which begins in May 2013.

The Premier U20 men's league - the Super 20 League - provides the platform for top 17-20 year olds in the United States and Canada to compete at the elite level.

Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner told Villa's website: "We're very happy to support Pacesetter Soccer Club and we wish Pacesetter Villa Super 20 every success when the season kicks off in May.

"James Walker and his family have had a long association with Aston Villa and this new venture is really exciting.

"The club already have strong links with the US, with Brad Guzan our current No.1 goalkeeper and Brad Friedel, among others, also having played an important role for us in recent times.

"We hope that an association such as this could pave the way for other American players to join Villa in the future."