Cole close to Villa move

10 June 2014 11:17

Former England midfielder Joe Cole is poised to join Aston Villa after undergoing a medical at the midlands club.

The 32-year-old is available on a free transfer after being released by West Ham at the end of last season.

Villa have released a picture, via Twitter, of Cole wearing a club tracksuit top at the club's Bodymoor Heart training complex.

The accompanying text confirmed Cole had "completed a medical this morning".

A formal announcement of a deal is now expected imminently.

Cole, who has also played for Chelsea and Liverpool in his career, won 56 caps for England.

He moves to Villa Park having spent the past season and a half back at first club West Ham, where he came through the youth ranks.

He was regarded as one of the most gifted players of his generation and was snapped up by Chelsea for £6.6million in 2003.

He won three Premier League titles and became an England regular during a successful seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge but injuries eventually led to him falling down the pecking order.

A move to Liverpool to 2010 failed to reignite his career but he enjoyed a successful loan spell with Lille before taking up the opportunity to return to Upton Park.

He rejoined the Hammers on an 18-month deal but played only a bit-part role in the season just concluded.

He last started a Barclays Premier League last December, when he scored for West Ham in a 3-3 draw against West Brom.

Source: PA