The third signing of the week has been completed with Crewe Alexandra captain Ashley Westwood joining the club on a four year deal.

Westwood, a midfielder who took a central part in Crewe’s promotion last season, has already talked up his chances of breaking the first team and believes Paul Lambert’s role at the club was a critical part of taking the deal bringing him to Villa Park.

Speaking about his transfer to Villa, Westwood said:

I see myself as a Michael Carrick-type of player, someone who stays out of the limelight and keeps it simple, retaining the ball and laying it off to team-mates and from the conversations I’ve had with the new manager I think that will fit in perfectly here.
He [Paul Lambert] said to me that he’s looking for younger lads to work with him, step up and lift this club to the next level and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.
This is a fantastic football club, a massive club and I can’t wait to get started really.

“It’s a bit surreal right now but I’ll get out training with the lads tomorrow morning and take it in my stride.

Paul Lambert was quick to add his own thoughts saying:

Being captain of his football club at 21 years of age, I think that says a big thing about Ashley’s quality, the responsibility he has taken on his shoulders and his temperament – he’s a good player,” said Lambert.
He’s also a terrific prospect for this football club – a real, real talent.
He’s had a really good grounding at Crewe and he will fit in with what we’re looking to do here. He’s a good player and he’ll do fine.

With Westwood being Villa’s seventh signing since Paul Lambert took over at the club, there is an air of transformation at the club with a real focus on a renewed youth aspect of the team. What are you thoughts? Another step in the right direction?

Want to join the conversation? Read the latest piece by Friday columnist Jason Chalifour on how Villa’s team won’t be built overnight via the following link – http://www.astonvillalife.com/aston-villa-blog/rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day/

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Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.