Doughty spent last season playing in the Under-18 Premier League for Everton and scored seven goals in 15 appearances before completing his move to Villa.
Because the winger had not signed professional terms with Everton due to his age, Villa will pay youth development compensation rather than a conventional transfer fee.
Doughty has also represented England at Under-16 level and becomes the latest promising young player to move into Villa’s academy system.
Villa academy manager Mark Harrison welcomed the teenager to the club and highlighted his attacking qualities.
“We are delighted that Jake has joined us from Everton,” Harrison said. “He is a wide attacking player with excellent technical qualities and an ability to create and score goals.”
Harrison also pointed to Doughty’s experience at Under-18 level and with England as the academy assesses his potential.
“Jake played a number of times for Everton Under-18s and represented England at Under-16 level. We look forward to seeing how Jake develops over the next few years,” he added.
Doughty’s move continues Villa’s recruitment of young players with the potential to progress through the academy and eventually challenge for senior opportunities.
The club have already seen recent academy additions move quickly through the ranks. Brian Madjo joined from Metz in January and has since entered the first-team picture, while Fletcher Boyd arrived from Aberdeen last year and has featured for Villa’s Under-21s.
Doughty will now begin his own pathway with the Under-18s after leaving Everton, where his goalscoring record provided an indication of his attacking potential.
His seven goals in 15 league appearances last season came despite his age, while his England involvement has given him experience of international youth football.
Villa’s decision to recruit him before he had signed a professional contract also meant the move could be completed through the youth compensation system.
For Everton, the departure represents the loss of another academy prospect before he had progressed to senior football. For Villa, it provides another opportunity to develop a young wide player within an academy that has increasingly been used to produce and recruit players for the club’s senior squad.
Doughty’s immediate focus will be adapting to Villa’s Under-18 environment and continuing his development over the coming seasons.