Defender signs three-year deal at Aston Villa

Aston Villa have announced, via their official website , the signing of former Bournemouth captain Tommy Elphick on a three-year contract.

Although the fee for the defender was undisclosed, the BBC report that Villa paid roughly £3million to take him from the South Coast club.

The centre-half joined the Cherries from Brighton in 2012 and made 145 appearances in his three seasons at the club.

Elphick helped guide Bournemouth to promotion from League One in his debut season, making 34 appearances in the process.

In the side’s second season in the Championship, they won the title and against all the odds were promoted to the top flight under Eddie Howe.

He featured just 12 times last campaign due to an injury.

The 28-year-old becomes Roberto Di Matteo’s first signing as Villa boss as the Villans beat off numerous Championship outfits in order to secure Elphick’s signature.

The new boss said:

I’m really pleased to bring Tommy to the football club. He is a fantastic player and also a fantastic character which is very important. He knows what is required to win promotion to the Premier League from the Championship and that experience will be invaluable.

He will likely be one of many signings at Villa Park this summer.