Oh Joleon Joleon! Aston Villa sign Lescott from West Bromwich Albion
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Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Joleon Lescott from West Bromwich Albion, becoming the club’s 11th signing of the summer.
The fee is understood to be in the region of £1m with the player signing a two-year deal, as Tim Sherwood bolsters his defensive options at Villa Park and Lescott will link up with former Manchester City teammate Micah Richards, who was also signed earlier in the summer.
Sherwood’s side, who are 7/1 with Coral for a top 10 Premier League finish this season, are also reportedly keen to strengthen further on deadline day, with former Tottenham and Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov on the club’s radar, after his contract expired at Monaco.
Lescott will add vital experience to Villa’s backline and he and Richards shared a successful partnership while at City, so Sherwood is no doubt hopeful that the duo can rediscover their form.
It looked like it could have been all doom and gloom at the start of the summer for the West Midlands side, though it appears that Sherwood has recruited wisely, putting at least £40m received from the sales of Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph to good use.
As well as Lescott and Richards the club have signed Jordan Ayew, Jordan Amavi, Idrissa Gueye, Rudy Gestede, Jose Angel Crespo, Mark Bunn, Jordan Veretout, as well as hotshot Adama Traore from Barcelona.
The club are also reportedly looking at Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle and have had a bid rejected on transfer deadline day.
Lescott could well be installed in the side for Villa’s next game away against Leicester City after the international break, which gives him a couple of weeks to get to know his new teammates.
Having started his career with Wolves, he then went onto play for Everton, before a high-profile switch to City, where he won two Premier League titles, and an FA Cup plus a League Cup apiece, while also earning 26 England caps so far.
