OFFICIAL: Aston Villa complete Andres Garcia transfer

Aston Villa have officially completed the signing of Andres Garcia.

The Villans have wrapped up their second signing of the January transfer window. Young right-back Andres Garcia has joined the club from Spanish second-tier outfit Levante for €7 million.

Recruitment chief Monchi acted decisively in the negotiations as Garcia had originally looked set to join Portuguese giants Sporting CP. Levante initially insisted that his €12m release clause would have to be paid, but Aston Villa managed to strike a significantly cheaper deal.

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Head coach Unai Emery also reportedly proved crucial in the negotiations as his personal talk with Garcia convinced him to favour a move to Birmingham over Lisbon.

Villa will now allow 19-year-old right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic to leave the club on loan. The young Serbian defender was signed a year ago and joined up with Emery’s squad in the summer.

Villa complete Garcia hijack

Andres Garcia is a 21-year-old right-back, who came through the Levante youth system and was a regular for the side in LaLiga 2 prior to his move to Villa Park.

An attack-minded full-back, Garcia will offer Aston Villa a threat down the right. The Spanish youngster notched three goals and three assists in 22 Segunda Division outings this term.

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Garcia never played for any Spanish youth national team, so he had gone a bit under the radar and this is likely why Villa managed to strike a deal for just €7m.

As for his other suitors, Sporting CP, they have now seen a second right-back transfer hijacked after Juventus stole Alberto Costa from underneath their noses. This, in turn, has stopped a proposed – and seemingly fully agreed – move of Sporting’s Ivan Fresneda to Como.

Next up on the agenda for Aston Villa is to complete the signing of France international Loic Bade from Sevilla.