Reo-Coker gone

Nigel Reo-Coker has joined Aston Villa in an £8.5m switch, it was confirmed tonight.

Former club captain Reo-Coker - who was unveiled as Villa's first signing of the summer at a press conference this evening - told the assembled media pack that he was looking forward to beginning a 'new chapter' in his career, having agreed personal terms with his new club last night.

"I don't build myself up to be something I'm not. All I want to do is be successful," he said.

"I enjoyed every minute of my time at West Ham but this is a new beginning for me. I'm hoping there will be a lot of success here."

Villa had been given a free run to sign Reo-Coker, much to the dismay of the England under-21 captain who had yearned for a move to one of the Premier League's 'big four'.

The huge fee - the third highest ever received by the Hammers - represents something of a coup for the club given that Villa had no serious competition for his services, and that he had previously made clear his desire to leave by handing in a transfer request.

Reo-Coker's favoured destination had been Arsenal, but their interest waned after he fell foul of United supporters following a string of incidents both on and off the pitch.

The nearest the midfielder will get to the Emirates now is Villa's training complex at Bodymoor Heath, which he described tonight as 'quite similar to Arsenal's training ground, which I remember from my youth team days.'