Crewe Alexandra skipper Ashley Westwood has signed a four-year deal with Premier League Aston Villa ahead of the close of the transfer window later this evening.
| “It’s a bit surreal right now but I’ll get out training with the lads tomorrow morning” – Ashley Westwood |
The Villans are understood to have settled on the required £2m for the highly-rated 22-year-old who was only appointed captain earlier this month.
Manager Paul Lambert switched his attention to the Alex midfielder after ending his recent interest in Charlton Athletic’s Dale Stephens.
Westwood originally progressed through the famed youth academy at Crewe, making his debut as an eighteen-year-old and going on complete 138 appearances while scoring fifteen times. He helped them to promotion via the play-offs at the end of last season.
His outstanding form soon alerted interest from higher up the scale and Swansea City were reported to have submitted an unsuccessful £500,000 bid earlier this week, while Everton were also rumoured to be interested.
“This is a fantastic football club, a massive club and I can’t wait to get started really,” Westwood told Villa’s official website. “It’s a bit surreal right now but I’ll get out training with the lads tomorrow morning and take it in my stride.”
| LATEST ON THE VITAL CREWE FORUMS … |
