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In what was one of the most dramatic transfers in this transfer window, Aston Villa captain Fabian Delph first committed his future to Villa before doing a U-turn and signing for Manchester City.
The Guardian is reporting that the deal is worth £8million which is the amount on his buyout clause. The 25-year-old has penned a five-year-deal and is expected to take the number 18 jersey as he completed his move to the Etihad stadium.
Dramatic turnaround
The whole transfer unfolded in the most dramatic fashions. Delph had initially turned down an opportunity to move to City by committing his future to Villa.
The deal was well in place and looks to get completed only for the midfielder to pull the plug on the deal by saying that he was a ‘loyal person’ and that he was planning to stay put at the Birmingham-based club.
“I’m aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight. I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club,” Delph had said on Aston Villa’s official website.
The deal was expected to be completed last week itself only for Delph’s intervention to stall the deal. The move drew praise from Villa fans who hailed their captain for the loyalty that he was showing.
But a week is a long time in football and Delph who had pledged his future to Villa did another dramatic U-turn to complete his move to last season’s runners-up. Delph will challenge the likes of Fernandinho and Fernando for the midfield berth in Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
The report suggests that Delph may have opted out of the move initially over concerns of playing time at the Etihad. But Pellegrini praised his latest recruit and said that he was looking forward to working with the midfielder.
“Fabian Delph is an excellent player, and I am looking forward to working with him. He has made a huge impact in recent seasons at Aston Villa, and is now one of the brightest young midfielders in the Premier League.
“Fabian has tremendous skill and energy, and the fact that he has become a regular member of the England squad is further evidence of his progress over the past few seasons. At just 25 years old, he still has his best years ahead of him.”
