Villa seal Sidwell deal

Midfielder signs three-year deal

Last updated: 10th July 2008

Steve Sidwell Chelsea

Sidwell: First Villa signing

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Aston Villa have completed the signing of Steve Sidwell from Chelsea.

Sidwell has put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal at Villa Park after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

A number of clubs were keen on signing Sidwell, but Villa have won the race for the 25-year-old.

Sidwell decided to leave Chelsea after failing to establish himself at Stamford Bridge following his free transfer from Reading last summer.

The former England Under 21 international is Villa boss Martin O'Neill's first signing of the summer and his arrival could pave the way for Gareth Barry to make the move to Liverpool.

Sidwell is delighted to have signed for Villa and is excited about the prospects at the club.

Over the moon

"I'm just over the moon to be able to join a club of this stature," Sidwell told Sky Sports News.

"Obviously, after a hard year for myself to finally get a chance now to play football and enjoy it, he's (O'Neill) got me looking forward to it.

"It's dragged on for a while from the initial approach and, obviously, the media attention. Now it's been done, it's been a long saga, but I'm over the moon and can't wait to meet my new team-mates, the manager, put my boots on and get out on the field.

"It was a case of as soon as I had the meeting with the manager and sitting down and talking to him, and seeing what direction him and the chairman are looking to take the football club and how well they had done last year, it was very easy.

"I'm looking forward to being among a good mixture of players that they've got here and hopefully there will be a few more additions to come.

"Obviously I had great times last year with there being Champions League football. There is a chance now to play in Europe and it's still a fantastic competition to go ahead in.

"I'm sure the manager is going to want to do well just as much as the players. To play in Europe and to play some of the best teams in Europe is what you strive for as a football player. To get the chance to do it would be fantastic."