Joleon Lescott has become Aston Villa’s second deadline day signing after putting pen to paper on a 2 year deal, with the fee thought to be initially £1million. The 33-year-old becomes Tim Sherwood’s fourth defensive signing if the window; as the Aston Villa manager continues to add solidity to the Villans defence.
In a statement about the player Sherwood commented that:
“I’m delighted to bring Joleon on board.”
“He’s a player who has great Premier League experience and he’ll be a huge help to the younger members of our squad.”
Former England international Lescott comes with a solid pedigree, having been a Premier League winner with Manchester City, and a proficient central defender for Everton early on in his career.
However, Lescott has decided to come back to his hometown having grew up and attended school in nearby Quinton. Therefore, he’ll take pride in the fact he has signed for the club he grew up as a fan of regardless of his future performances.
Despite Villa’s attempts to capture him this summer, it was initially thought that he would stay at The Baggies due to his solid performances last year. Yet the arrivals of Jonny Evans and James Chester have changed either the player or the club’s mind.
The signing will leave the Villa boss with the rather positive problem of fitting Lescott, Micah Richards and Ciaran Clark, who recently signed a new long-term deal, in the same defence.
Whilst the aerial duel maestro played at left back at the Hawthorns last weekend, it is unlikely that he will be able to usurp Jordan Amavi, who is already being touted as the signing of the window. This would only leave central defence, and whilst Richards has performed admirably in the role in recent weeks; Lescott’s signing will probably see the fellow Englishman moved back to right back in order to accommodate Lescott with Clark.
