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Aston Villa have completed the signing of goalkeeper Shay Given from Manchester City and will unveil the player on Thursday. The fee is believed to be in the region of 3.5 million pounds, and it seems Villa are putting the funds generated from the transfers of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young to good use.
Shay Given declared himself absolutely delighted at the signing and said that he was looking forward to perform in front of the Villa fans next season. He said-
”Aston Villa is a huge football club and I’m really excited to be joining,”
“I’m looking forward to training and playing with the players here. They’re a good bunch of lads, very talented and I know several of them already which will help.
“It’s also a new challenge and one I’m eager to embrace. My aim is to impress the Aston Villa supporters with my performances and I can’t wait really to get started.”
Given didn’t make a single start in the Premier League last season and was completely superseded by Joe Hart in the pecking order. This was a stark contrast to his Newcastle days, where he was a shoe in to start and put in many match-saving performances for the Barcodes. He expressed his relief at being able to play more games at Villa and also looked forward to working with manager Alex McLeish.
He said-
“Everyone knows that I didn’t play enough football last season, so I’m really pleased that I’ll be able to put that right here. Hopefully, this move will get me back to where I was before in the Premier League, which is where every player wants to be playing.
“Obviously, I’m also excited to be working with Alex McLeish and it’s going to be a fresh start for everybody at the club this season.”
McLeish gave Given a glowing stamp of approval and said that he was really happy with his first signing for Villa. He said-
“Shay has come here probably with something of a point to prove and that won’t do any harm at all. Everybody who has watched him perform over many years in the Premier League will know his pedigree, so we believe we have secured the services of one of the best goalkeepers in the business.”
“He’s a real competitor and a world-class keeper and I’m delighted he’s the first signing I’ve made at Villa.”
It remains to be seen whether Given regains his mojo at Villa or if he is relegated to the bench again. Stay tuned for more in this regard.
