Shays Career Given Lifeline By McLeish

Given was a bench warmer at City for all of last season

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given from Manchester City on a five-year contract, the Premier League club said.

The 35-year-old Given had slipped behind England’s Joe Hart in the pecking order at City and played only a handful of first-team matches last season.

“Aston Villa is a huge football club and I’m really excited to be joining,” Given told the club’s website.

“I’m looking forward to training and playing with the players here. They’re a good bunch of lads, very talented and I know several of them already which will help.”

Given made his name during 12 years at Newcastle United in which he made over 400 appearances before joining City in 2009 for around 6 million pounds.

Villa, which lost first-choice keeper Brad Friedel to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season, paid around 3.5 million pounds for Given, according to newspaper reports.

Given, Ireland’s most capped player with 113 international appearances, became Villa manager Alex McLeish’s first signing since taking over last month.

“Everybody who has watched him perform over many years in the Premier League will know his pedigree, so we believe we have secured the services of one of the best goalkeepers in the business,” McLeish said.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.