Villa win Harewood chase
17 Jul 2007 - 17:20:32
Aston Villa have beaten off competition from several other Premier League sides to clinch the signing of West Ham United striker Marlon Harewood for an undisclosed fee.
The £4million-rated forward held talks with Wigan Athletic over the weekend before opting to pen a three-year deal at Villa Park.
The 27-year-old is Villa boss Martin O'Neill's second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Harewood's former Upton Park team-mate, Nigel Reo-Coker.
Harewood, who has also been linked with Manchester City, Portsmouth and Birmingham City, scored 56 goals in 170 first-team appearances for the Hammers but struggled last term.
He found the net only three times in the Premiership in 2006-07 after registering 14 goals the previous season.
After coming through the youth team ranks at Nottingham Forest, Harewood scored 51 goals in 181 first-team appearances during his seven years at the City Ground before moving to West Ham in a £500,000 deal in November 2003.
