Midfielder Steve Sidwell has completed his €6.3m move from Chelsea to Aston Villa.
The 25-year-old has agreed a three-year deal and will immediately link up with his new team-mates for a pre-season tour of Switzerland.
His arrival also increases the likelihood of club captain Gareth Barry leaving, although the speed of that deal will depend on how quickly manager Martin O'Neill and Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez can reach a compromise after weeks of haggling over a fee for the England international.
'I am absolutely delighted to join. I am over the moon. It's taken a while but now it's done I am excited and looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and getting on the pitch and playing football,' Sidwell said.
'There's been a lot of speculation and rumour about the deal and it has played on my mind a little but I've been professional and kept my head down.'
Sidwell endured a frustrating time at Chelsea last season after joining on a free from Reading.
He made just 25 appearances, 12 as substitute, as he struggled to break into a high-quality midfield.
O'Neill believes Sidwell has 'the right quality to take Aston Villa forward' after agreeing the deal.
He first came to O'Neill's attention in his very first match as Villa manager against Reading two years ago and has been one of his main summer targets.
O'Neill said: 'Steve actually played for Reading in my first match at Villa Park. You always take note of players who do well against you and he stuck in my mind.
'However, I was less happy to see him do well again when we played at Reading that same season. He scored the second goal against us that day. But, again, the quality of his performance stayed with me.
'It was shortly after that he earned his move to Chelsea. Now, for whatever reason, it did not work out for him at Stamford Bridge. It's not my job to go into that, really.
'However, he is of the right age, and I believe the right quality, to take Aston Villa forward. He remains hungry to do well and to prove himself and I'm delighted to have him with us.'
