Aston Villa sign Charles N'Zogbia from Wigan Athletic
- Published
Charles N'Zogbia has completed his move from Wigan to Aston Villa after agreeing personal terms on a five-year deal at Villa Park.
The two clubs settled on a fee, reported to be about £9.5m, for the 25-year-old winger on Monday, after Villa's initial bid was turned down.
"I am really happy and excited to sign for Aston Villa," said N'Zogbia.
"It is a great club and a really big step for me in my career, so I am sure I will enjoy my football here."
N'Zogbia scored 15 goals in 83 Premier League appearances for Wigan after an offer of Ryan Taylor and a reported £6m fee secured his services from Newcastle in January 2009., external
Five of those goals came in the left-sided attacker's final six Premier League matches for the club as the Latics avoided relegation on the final day of the season., external
His goal-scoring run extended to France's friendly against Poland in June in which his first international goal was the difference between the sides.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes that his departure has come at the right time for all parties.
"We're all disappointed to lose a player like Charles N'Zogbia, who has been fantastic for Wigan Athletic over the past two years," he said.
"Now is the time for him to move on to a club who have matched the market valuation for him and allow us to move on reinvest and take our football club onto another level."
Villa's purchase of N'Zogbia's has been funded by the departure of their own big names, with Stewart Downing sold to Liverpool.
It is new manager Alex McLeish's second foray into the transfer market this summer after the signing of goalkeeper Shay Given, a former Newcastle team-mate of N'Zogbia's, from Manchester City.