Aston Villa FC

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• Manager:Gerard Houllier

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Maloney moves to Villa

01 Feb 2007 - 08:35:09

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Aston Villa left it late but swooped to sign Celtic's Shaun Maloney before the transfer window closed on Wednesday evening.

The Scotland international forward was out of contract at Parkhead at the end of the season and agreed a switch to Villa Park after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee believed to be around the £1million mark.

The 23-year-old has agreed a three-year deal at Villa and watched on from the stands as his new side lost 3-1 to Newcastle United on Wednesday night.

"He has done very, very well since I left Celtic," Villa's former Bhoys manager Martin O'Neill told BBC Sport.

"Shaun is one of the most conscientious young men I have known in the game.

"He is a smashing lad. But I am not signing him because he is a smashing lad. He is a quality player."

O'Neill also signed Ashley Young and John Carew during a busy transfer window at Villa Park.