Shay Given lands five-year Aston Villa deal

Aston Villa completed the signing of goalkeeper Shay Given from Manchester City last night as manager Alex McLeish made his first signing since taking over at Villa Park.

Given, 35, is the Republic of Ireland's most-capped player and has signed a five-year-deal with the Midlands club. He goes straight into the squad for their next friendly, against Walsall on Thursday.

The former Blackburn and Newcastle goalkeeper moved to City in 2009 for 7 million but found first-team opportunities limited last season after England's Joe Hart became Roberto Mancini's preferred option.

Given started his career as a youngster at Celtic and had been heavily linked with a summer move back to Parkhead, but McLeish has now secured the veteran's signature for an undisclosed fee to replace the outgoing Brad Friedel, who joined Tottenham earlier this month.

Given told Villa's official website: "Aston Villa is a huge football club and I'm really excited to be joining. I'm looking forward to training and playing with the players here. They're a good bunch of lads, very talented and I know several of them already which will help.

"Everyone knows that I didn't play enough football last season, so I'm really pleased that I'll be able to put that right here. Hopefully, this move will get me back to where I was before in the Premier League, which is where every player wants to be playing.

"Obviously, I'm also excited to be working with Alex McLeish and it's going to be a fresh start for everybody at the club this season."

McLeish said: "Shay has come here probably with something of a point to prove and that won't do any harm at all. We believe we have secured the services of one of the best goalkeepers in the business."