Aston Villa have completed the signing of defender Micah Richards on a free transfer, according to the club’s official website.
Richards, 26, has agreed a four-year deal with the club and will move to Villa Park on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with Manchester City on July 1.
“I’m really pleased to get Micah on board and I’m sure he will prove to be an excellent signing for the football club,” Villa manager Tim Sherwood said.
Richards, who spent last season on loan at Italian Serie A side Fiorentina, helped City win the English Premier League in 2011/12 and 2013/14.
Villa are priced at 4/1 to secure a Top 10 finish in the Premier League table next season.
Sirigu staying put
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu has rubbished reports linking him with a summer move away from the French capital amid speculation suggesting he could return to Italy this summer.
The Italy international, who joined PSG from Italian Serie A side Palermo in a deal reportedly worth around €4 million in the summer of 2011, is reportedly attracting interest from Internazionale, Napoli and Roma.
“I’ve heard so many rumours in the past few days, but the truth is that there is no reason for me to leave PSG,” Sirigu told Sky Italia.
“I’ve spoken to the club and I have three years left on my contract, which I recently renewed.
“I’m happy and there’s no reason to change, I will remain in Paris.”
Sirigu, who is under contract at the Parc des Princes until June 2018, kept 12 clean sheets in 34 Ligue 1 starts for the French treble winners last season.
De Laurentiis: Higuain may go if release clause is met
Napoli supremo Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed the club will only sell star striker Gonzalo Higuain this summer if the player’s release clause is met.
The Argentina international, has been linked with a move to England amid reported interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester United, with Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid also believed to be in the running for his services.
“Higuain’s future? If a player has a contract this contract has to be respected. If a madman arrives and offers to pay his buy-out clause then one must consider it,” De Laurentiis told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Otherwise Pipita (Higuain) will remain here.”
Higuain, whose current contract at the Stadio San Paolo expires in the summer of 2018, bagged 18 goals and seven assists in 37 league appearances for Napoli last term.
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