The summer exodus from relegation victims Fulham continued today with the completion Kieran Richardson’s move to Aston Villa, who signed on the dotted line after passing his medical this afternoon.
The 29-year-old former Cottager secured his place next season in the Premier League by penning a two-year deal with the midlands-based side that will see him kick off next season with fellow Villa newcomers Philippe Senderos, who has also joined from Fulham, and Joe Cole, who has joined from West Ham.
First team coach Paul Lambert said Richardson’s pace along with his previous experience playing top level football with Manchester United – who he spent six years with last decade – will be massively advantageous to his Villa side in their 2014/2015 Premier League campaign.
In an official club statement, Lambert said: “Kieran will complement many of the players here well with what he brings.
“He will add pace, a great deal of experience and he knows the Barclays Premier League. He’s played a lot of games for a lad who has yet to turn 30.
“The grounding he gained at Manchester United has stood him in good stead and he knows what it is to compete in this league and to win things and that’s important. I’m delighted he’s joined us and we’re really looking forward to working with him.”
Fulham let go of 16 of their players since losing their battle with relegation and Richardson is the forth to have been fortunate to escape a spell the Championship next season.
The three other players who have secured an immediate future in the top tiers of football are midfielder Steve Sidwell, who joined Premier League side Stoke City, right-back Sascha Riether, who has moved to Bundesliga side SC Freiburg, and midfielder Derek Boateng, who has moved to La Liga side Rayo Vallecano.
Other Fulham casualties including Damien Duff, who was a fans’ favourite at Chelsea last decade, and John Arne Riise, who was once a big noise at Liverpool, are free agents yet to secure new deals.