Aston Villa have completed the signing of Newcastle United winger James Milner on a four-year contract.
The England Under-21 international has put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at Villa Park until the summer of 2012.
Milner underwent a medical at Villa's training ground this morning, and has made the move from the Magpies for a fee believed to be in the region of €13m.
The 22-year-old could come into contention to play for Martin O'Neill's side against Liverpool at Villa Park on Sunday.
It is a case of O'Neill finally getting his man, two years after he had come within minutes of snapping up the former Leeds player.
Milner spent the entire 2005-06 campaign on loan at Villa, and a permanent deal was set to go through in August 2006.
But Newcastle pulled out of the deal at the 11th hour after failing at that stage to sign Mark Viduka.
Milner signed a new four-year contract last summer with the Magpies, but last week handed in a transfer request.
Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan today insisted it was his decision to sell Milner to Villa.
Keegan, who had repeatedly expressed his desire to hold onto the England Under-21 international throughout a protracted saga, revealed it was he who ultimately sanctioned the deal.
Keegan said: 'He's a player, in an ideal world, you would not want to lose, but I just want to make it absolutely clear that at the end of the day, it was my decision to sell him.
'We got an offer that I feel was his value. We are all aware James has had a difficult time - he almost signed for them once before and was dragged back.
'But he has always behaved impeccably. He's a fantastic professional, and there's no doubt about it, they've got an outstanding player and we have got to move on.'
