Aston Villa Football Club (; also known as
Villa,
The Villa,
The Villans,
The Lions) is a professional
football club based in
Witton,
Birmingham, that plays in the
Premier League, the highest level of English football. Founded in 1874, they have played at their current home ground,
Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were the originators and founder members of
the Football League in 1888. They were also founding members of the
Premier League in 1992, and have remained there ever since. The club were floated by the previous owner and chairman
Doug Ellis, but in 2006 full control was acquired by American businessman
Randy Lerner.