Downing joins Villa

Aston Villa have completed the signing of England international Stewart Downing from relegated club, Middlesbrough.

The deal is worth £12million and for a four year period.

Downing is currently sidelined due to a foot surgery after a tackle on the last game of the season against Villa took him out until October. Despite not being able to start the season, Martin O'Neil decided to sign the player anyway.

Villa's official website read :

Villa have completed the signing of England international Stewart Downing.

The four-year deal was finalised after the left-sided star agreed terms and passed a medical.

Downing becomes Martin O'Neill's first summer signing and adds more quality to the manager's claret and blue squad.

Downing has been left a big admirer of O'Neil and said :

As soon as I spoke to the manager at the training ground, I wanted to play for Villa and I wanted to play for him.

He has great ambition and wants to build a good squad to take the club forward. I want to be part of that.

As an outsider looking in, it was obvious that Villa were a club on the up. You can see a chairman and manager who want to build great things.

They have done that over the past few seasons, particularly by finishing sixth last time around, which was great.

But once you get here and see the stadium, the training ground, the people behind the scenes and the manager with his ambition and hopes for the future, it's even better than you realised.

Downing has also reiterated his intention to play for England next year in South Africa which is what has forced him to move away from the club he has always supported and would always support.

With this deal done, do you think it makes way for Ashley Young to look for newer pastures? Manchester United anyone?