Transfer news

Villa agree £9.5m fee for N'Zogbia

July 25, 2011
By ESPNsoccernet staff

Aston Villa have agreed a £9.5 million deal with Wigan for winger Charles N'Zogbia and are close to completing the move.

Charles N'Zogbia
GettyImagesCharles N'Zogbia made his international debut for France in 2010

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Wigan had rejected Villa's bid of £9 million for the former Newcastle player. But the two clubs held further discussions over the weekend and are believed to have reached a compromise figure of around £9.5 million.

Villa said in a statement: ''The club are pleased to confirm that we have agreed a fee with Wigan for French international winger Charles N'Zogbia.

''We will now discuss personal terms with the player and arrange a medical, with a view to completing the transfer later this week.''

New Villa boss Alex McLeish needs a new winger after the departures of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively this summer. He will take nothing for granted after failing to sign N'Zogbia when Birmingham boss last summer.

He said: "He is an exciting player and someone I've admired for quite a while. I'm pleased we've managed to agree a fee and hope we can reach agreement with Charles as soon as possible."

N'Zogbia will hold talks over personal terms in the next 24 hours and undergo a medical before signing what is expected to be a five-year deal.

He would be likely to have to wait to join up with Villa's first-team squad. McLeish's team are currently on a pre-season tour of Hong Hong and N'Zogbia does not have the required work visa.