Aston Villa has completed the signings of the goalkeeper from Man City for a 5-year contract as said by the Premier League club. The 35-year-old Ireland goalie was to be signed by Villa last season itself however the process got delayed due to Joe Hart being in the line ahead. Shay Given played only a couple of matches last season.
Aston Villa sign Man City Goalkeeper Shay Given
“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,” Given said. On the official website of Villa, he says that he is very excited to part of the club and that it will give him the standings that every player wants to achieve.
“Aston Villa is a huge football club and I’m really excited to be joining,” Given told the club’s website (www.avfc.co.uk).
Alex McLeish, the manager of Villa, said that the player has come to the club to prove himself and that he will succeed in doing so.
“Everybody who has watched him perform over many years in the Premier League will know his pedigree, so we believe we have secured the services of one of the best goalkeepers in the business”, McLeish said. He also said that Given is quite the competitor and that he was happy to sign him to the club. This is would be his first sign at Villa after he took over the team last month.
“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,” Given said. Given has made 113 international appearances and is Ireland’s most capped player.
Given had joined Man City in 2009 for about 6 million pounds that time. Before that he was with Newcastle United where he made 400 appearances. City paid around 3.5-4 million pounds for Given this time.
Shay Given will be in the place of Brad Friedel. The 40-year old American joined Tottenham Hotspur last month and was the first choice as the keeper for Villa.
Arsenal too has added another one to their attackers, signing Gervinho to their team just recently. He had helped Lille win a French League and is expected to show some great play on field. Arsene Wenger said that the player will be able to play in a number of positions and his qualities will benefit the team.
A new season of field-play will welcome many new players in the teams this season.
Tags: Aston Villa, EPL, Goalkeeper, Manchester City, Premier League, Shay Given
