Tottenham midfielder Wayne Routledge has completed his move to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee believed to be worth £1.5million.
The former England Under-21 international is likely to be Villa boss Martin O'Neill's first signing with MLS goalkeeper Brad Guzan poised to be the next to arrive at Villa Park with a move from Chivas for £2million - subject to obtaining a work permit.
Routledge was regarded as one of the country's brightest prospects when he moved to Tottenham in the summer of 2005 after making more than 100 appearances for Crystal Palace.
But the writing was on the wall for the player after he suffered a broken foot on his league debut against Portsmouth, which sidelined him for four months.
He was loaned to Pompey in January 2006 and helped them avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League and then last season temporarily joined Fulham as part of the deal which saw Steed Malbranque move to Spurs.
This season Routledge has made only two appearances for Tottenham - both in August against Everton and Derby - and he sees a switch to Villa as the chance to resurrect his career.
Routledge's arrival gives O'Neill the natural right-sided player he has been lacking this season.
Guzan's expected move will mean Villa having four goalkeepers although Thomas Sorensen is out of contract in the summer and Stuart Taylor has only 17 months left of his current deal.
There has also been speculation that O'Neill is undecided whether to make Scott Carson's loan deal permanent from Liverpool.
Guzan impressed O'Neill during a recent two day trial at the club's Bodymoor Heath training complex.
Illinois born Guzan, 23, has won five caps for the United States and was named MLS Goalkeeper Of the Year for the 2007 campaign.
It will be relief to O'Neill to finally bring in some new blood after a frustrating month and also the departure of central defender Gary Cahill to Bolton in a £5 million deal.
And he may revive his interest in another Spurs player in Pascal Chimbonda now that right-back Alan Hutton has moved from Rangers.
by soccernet.espn.go.com
The former England Under-21 international is likely to be Villa boss Martin O'Neill's first signing with MLS goalkeeper Brad Guzan poised to be the next to arrive at Villa Park with a move from Chivas for £2million - subject to obtaining a work permit.
Routledge was regarded as one of the country's brightest prospects when he moved to Tottenham in the summer of 2005 after making more than 100 appearances for Crystal Palace.
But the writing was on the wall for the player after he suffered a broken foot on his league debut against Portsmouth, which sidelined him for four months.
He was loaned to Pompey in January 2006 and helped them avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League and then last season temporarily joined Fulham as part of the deal which saw Steed Malbranque move to Spurs.
This season Routledge has made only two appearances for Tottenham - both in August against Everton and Derby - and he sees a switch to Villa as the chance to resurrect his career.
Routledge's arrival gives O'Neill the natural right-sided player he has been lacking this season.
Guzan's expected move will mean Villa having four goalkeepers although Thomas Sorensen is out of contract in the summer and Stuart Taylor has only 17 months left of his current deal.
There has also been speculation that O'Neill is undecided whether to make Scott Carson's loan deal permanent from Liverpool.
Guzan impressed O'Neill during a recent two day trial at the club's Bodymoor Heath training complex.
Illinois born Guzan, 23, has won five caps for the United States and was named MLS Goalkeeper Of the Year for the 2007 campaign.
It will be relief to O'Neill to finally bring in some new blood after a frustrating month and also the departure of central defender Gary Cahill to Bolton in a £5 million deal.
And he may revive his interest in another Spurs player in Pascal Chimbonda now that right-back Alan Hutton has moved from Rangers.
by soccernet.espn.go.com
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