New Aston Villa signing Karim El Ahmadi lured by star names
Aston Villa new-boy Karim El Ahmadi today revealed the chance to play alongside star players like Darren Bent helped convince him to join the claret and blues.
Aston Villa new-boy Karim El Ahmadi today revealed the chance to play alongside star players like Darren Bent helped convince him to join the claret and blues.
El Ahmadi was unveiled as new Villa manager Paul Lambert's first signing after he joined from Feyenoord for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £3m.
And the 27-year-old midfielder, who has penned a three-year contract with Villa reputed to be worth around £20,000 a week, admitted the chance to work every day with top class players such as Bent helped to persuade him to leave Holland.
El Ahmadi said: "I have seen Villa a lot on television and, for me, it is a club who have good players.
"There are some top quality players here and some great players like Gabby Agbonlahor and Darren Bent, who are famous and fantastic players who I am looking forward to playing and training with.
"It's a big team and a big club so I'm happy to be here.
"Villa Park is a special stadium and the training facilities are also brilliant.
"I had a good season in Holland but sometimes in life you have to make choices."
Enschede-born El Ahmadi began his professional career with hometown club Twente before he made the move to Feyenoord for £4.5m in April 2007. The tough-tackling also represented Holland at youth team level before he switched allegiances to Morocco, for whom he has won 10 full caps.
One player that El Ahmadi knows well from his days in Dutch football is fellow new signing Brett Holman, who joined on a free transfer from AZ Alkmaar.
And the Morocco international spoke highly of his new colleague, also recruited from the Eredivisie.
El Ahmadi believes the Australian midfielder can catch the eye of Villa supporters with his ability on the ball and tireless work rate.
He said: "I have played against Brett a lot of times, not only when he was at AZ but when he was younger he played at Feyenoord.
"He's a great player and it's good for him, too, to come to a club like this and to make a step up.
"In Holland, he showed his quality and now it's good to have him next to me. He's a great player and he never gives up. I don't think I ever saw him standing still on the pitch."
