Celtic target Shay Given has signed a five year contract with Aston Villa.
The goalkeeper has made no secret of his affection for Celtic but a new deal on Premiership wages up to the age of 40 was far too good to resist. No details have been ‘given’ of any transfer fee paid to Manchester City.
Given will go straight into the Villa team to replace Brad Friedel who had a spell on trial at Celtic at the same time as Given was in the Celtic youth side.
Speaking to the Villa website Given 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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
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getting a 5 year deal at 35 is good going, even for a ‘keeper.
It says on wiki that the fee is “believed to be around £3.5 million” and if it says it on wiki it must be true.
thank god that puts to bed this stupid story!!