Aston Villa complete £6m signing of Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun

15 January 2011 13:32
Aston Villa have completed the £6million signing of Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun.[LNB]The Cameroon international has put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year contract after passing a medical.[LNB]Villa new boy: Jean Makoun holds up his new shirt [LNB]But Makoun will not be eligible to play for up to two weeks while he obtains a work permit.[LNB]The 27-year-old becomes Villa boss Gerard Houllier's first major signing since replacing Martin O'Neill in September.[LNB]Houllier had also unsuccessfully tried to sign Makoun from Lille when he was in charge of Lyon.[LNB]His arrival will provide competition for Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov and Nigel Reo-Coker.[LNB]Houllier said: 'Jean is a player who can play in front of the defence as a sitter and defensive midfielder or as a box-to-box midfielder.[LNB]'He has several assets about his game. He is also a very experienced player because he played Champions League football with Lille and Lyon.[LNB]'He is a nice guy too. I think he will settle well in the dressing room.'[LNB]Makoun said: 'I am thrilled to be here at Aston Villa. I am really, really happy and very proud to have joined a great club.[LNB]'Villa have been after me for quite a while, so I am delighted it's finally happened. I can't wait to get started now.[LNB]'I've left a very good club in Lyon, a side which has played Champions League football, but I am very excited by this new challenge at Aston Villa.[LNB]'Villa really want to do well and really want to achieve something, so I am really excited to be joining.'[LNB]Makoun began his career in his native Cameroon at Cotonsport Garoua where he was part of the youth set-up.[LNB]He had spells at fellow Cameroon sides, Jeunesse Star and Tonnerre Yaounde, before eventually moving to France to join Lille and then Lyon in June 2008.[LNB]One of the highlights of his time with Lyon came in February 2010 when he scored the only goal in Lyon's Champions League win over Real Madrid.[LNB] Aston Villa's Ireland ruled out for another week with knee injuryAston Villa step up their chase for defender Maynor FigueroaMartin Keown's essential guide on how to deal with derby dayClub-by-club guide to every Premier League transfer deal during JanuaryAll the latest Aston Villa news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB][LNB]  Explore more:People: Martin O'Neill, Gerard Houllier Places: Lyon, France, Cameroon

Source: Daily_Mail