Aston Villa has completed the signing of England striker Danny Ings from Southampton on a three-year contract in a £25m deal. The 29-year-old is Aston Villa’s fourth signing of the summer after Leon Bailey, Emiliano Buendia and Ashley Young.
Aston Villa Completes Danny Ings Signing
Danny Ings scored 46 goals in 100 appearances for Southampton after joining Liverpool in 2018. Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith said: “Danny is an outstanding Premier League footballer who has scored goals wherever he has played.”
The manager also said: “He is also a top professional with a great character who will be a leader in our squad and a role model for our rapidly developing young academy players who are now in and around the first team.” Ings, who was about to enter the final year of his contract at St Mary’s, turned down the offer of a four-year deal in July that would have made him the club’s best-paid player as he wants to test himself at a higher level.
Danny Ings joined Villa Park just as midfielder Jack Grealish edges closer to a move away from the club, with Manchester City closing in on a £100m for the England international. Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says he will be able to use the money received for Ings to strengthen his squad.
The manager also said: “We’ve had a fantastic player over a few years who helped us a lot staying in the league,” the Austrian said. “He didn’t decide to sign a new contract with us. He’s decided to go somewhere else. This is his right.” “We got a lot of money for him, with only one year left (on his contract). So I think it’s a deal where we only have winners on every side.” “We can replace him, and we must replace him, to get a player who scores goals for us.”
