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Vlaar completes Villa move

Image: Ron Vlaar: Thrilled to have sealed a move to Aston Villa from Feyenoord

Aston Villa have clinched the signing of Dutch defender Ron Vlaar from Feyenoord on a three-year contract.

Dutch defender delighted after penning three-year contract

Aston Villa have clinched the signing of Dutch defender Ron Vlaar from Feyenoord on a three-year contract. Villa have been trying to conclude a deal for some time but it briefly looked like the move would not materialise when talks broke down. But Villa announced on Friday that Vlaar would be signing for them after agreeing personal terms - subject to passing a medical - and that has been successfully completed. The fee is understood to be around £3million and centre-back Vlaar, part of his country's Euro 2012 squad, becomes Villa's fourth signing of the summer. Vlaar arrives at Villa Park just hours after James Collins sealed a switch to West Ham, and he hopes to make an impact for the club over the coming years. "I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of players such as Paul McGrath, Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen, of course - all of them great players for this club," the 27-year-old told the club's official website. "But I also do things for myself because I want to get the very best out of myself. I can't do it alone, I also need the other players in the team as well as the fans, who are so important. By us all working hard for one another, we can achieve our goals. "We must work together to make things better and to get good results. We have to do it on the pitch and, with the support of the fans, we can get it going together. "Over time I hope my relationship with the fans at Villa becomes the same as it was at Feyenoord. I was at Feyenoord for seven years and the fans were good for me. It would be great to experience the same here and I will strive to achieve this."

Wealth of experience

Villa manager Paul Lambert is also delighted with the deal and is confident that Vlaar can be successful in the Premier League. "Ron is a really good defender and he has a wealth of experience for both Holland and a big football club in Feyenoord, so I'm delighted we have got him here to Villa," said Lambert. "I like the way the guy wants to do well. He's hungry and he wants to succeed. He's also a really good, strong defender and hopefully we will get the benefit of him in our team. "Certainly, I have no worries about his career so far. He's captained Feyenoord, who finished second last season in the Dutch Eredivisie to qualify for the Champions League, and he's been in the Dutch international set-up and was part of the Euros, so he's a proper player. "He'll bring something to the club, no doubt about it." Vlaar has already been capped nine times by Holland but believes he can develop further as a Villa player. He said: "I am very happy to be here and I am really excited about getting started. "This is a dream come true for me. With my past, I am very proud but I always look forward and this is a great opportunity. I am very happy that Villa have given me this chance. "For me, I want to play a lot and improve my play and do well with the team. That's most important.

"I am 27 years old and I know my best years are ahead of me. I feel fit and strong and I am looking forward very much to playing my first game. "I have had good conversations with the club and with the manager. I am looking forward to training under him and seeing what we can do together."

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