Aston Villa have announced the surprise signing of Danny Ings from Southampton for a fee believed to be £30million.
Ings, 29, is Villa’s fourth signing of the summer after Leon Bailey, Emiliano Buendia, and Ashley Young.
He scored 46 goals in 100 appearances for Southampton after joining from Liverpool in 2018.
“Danny is an outstanding Premier League footballer who has scored goals wherever he has played,” said Villa boss Dean Smith.
“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.”
Confirming Ings’ exit, Southampton simply tweeted: ‘Southampton Football Club can confirm that it has accepted an offer from Aston Villa for striker Danny Ings.’
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 another club.
