Last updated: 1st August 2008
Guzan: Successful work permit
Aston Villa have been given the go-ahead to complete the signing of Brad Guzan after the American goalkeeper was granted a work permit.
Guzan will join Villa from Chivas USA, and is set to begin his career in England as deputy to compatriot Brad Friedel who joined Martin O'Neill's squad from Blackburn last weekend.
Villa agreed the Guzan deal last month and announced on Friday that the Home Office have agreed to let him join.
The 23-year-old is a current United States international, having established himself this year.
Guzan is expected to play understudy to Friedel this season as Martin O'Neill is keen to have competition for places between the sticks.
"I am going to go in there and work as hard as I can, learn as much as I can
and try and become a better player and help the team in any way I can," said
Guzan.
"Whether that is as a No.2 or competing for a No.1, I am going to be pushing to make myself better or pushing to make the person who is playing to play better.
"Clubs with a good atmosphere have positive effects as they have competitive
players who are pushing each other to make the team better."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
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Genoa have officially announced the capture of Moroccan midfielder Houssine Kharja from Siena.
Artur Wichniarek has joined Hertha Berlin from Arminia Bielefeld on a two-year contract.
Hamburg have won the chase for highly-rated FC Twente forward Eljero Elia.
Hearts have clinched a deal to sign Polish defender Dawid Kucharski.