Joe Bennett has agreed to join Aston Villa and is now all signed up. The Middlesbrough defender, a current England U21 player, has signed an almost four year deal which will keep him with the club until the end of 2015-2016.
On signing the player, Paul Lambert said:
Joe’s a really good player, young and hungry to succeed and he’s exactly the type of player we want here at the football club,” said Villa boss Lambert.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he will thrive in this environment and he fits in exactly with what we are trying to build here.
His energy level is really high and he can get up and down the pitch really well, which will be important for the team and important in terms of how we want to play as a team.
“He’s an exciting signing for the club and I’m really pleased we’ve been able to take him here.
Bennett has previously won both young player of the year and player of the year awards with Middlesbrough and had established himself as a virtual ever-present in Middlesbrough’s team.
On joining Villa, Bennett stated:
I am really excited to have joined a massive club in Aston Villa and I’m eager to fight for a starting place and get in the team.
It’s up to the manager to pick the team, of course, but it would be great to go back to the north east this weekend and make my debut against Newcastle at St James’s Park.
When I first heard about the move a lot of things ran through my head. There was excitement and nerves and most of all a real buzz about the prospect of coming to Villa and playing in the Premier League.
Now that it’s come around so fast, I’m just raring to go. I’ve had a look around the stadium and the training ground and the facilities are top-class. You can tell straight away this is a massive club.
I know a few of the players from England U21s, the likes of Nathan Delfouneso and Nathan Baker and that will help in terms of settling in. I’m looking forward to it.
My approach has always been to get forward and try to create things. In my opinion Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy are the best full backs around and if I keep working on my game and improving it I know I can succeed at this level and help the team.
It was not long ago that I was given my professional debut at Middlesbrough by Gareth Southgate and it is a real privilege to now follow in his footsteps and join a club with Villa’s heritage.
I am very grateful to get this opportunity and I’m very grateful to the Middlesbrough chairman, Mr. Gibson, all of the Middlesbrough staff and fans and, particularly, Tony Mowbray for giving me the opportunity to prove my ability.
I am fully focused now on my career here at Villa and I’m really eager to get started.
My priority will be to impress the manager and gain a place in the starting XI. It will be a special moment when I pull on the claret and blue shirt for the first time.
I’m determined to earn the respect of my team-mates and the Aston Villa supporters. I know it’s going to be really exciting here in the years ahead and I really want to play my part.
So with Bennett signed and the signature of Christian Benteke likely to be unveiled in the next few days according to current information, what do you make of the move? A step in the right direction, or just the tip of the iceberg that needs to be fixed?
Want to join the conversation? You can comment on the latest opinion piece discussing the need for patience as the club ramp up their efforts to bulk up the squad by clicking the following link – http://www.astonvillalife.com/aston-villa-blog/panic-stations-calm-down-dear/
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