Aston Villa complete £9million swoop for defender Bjorn Engels

The 24-year-old Belgian has joined from French club Reims in a deal worth around £9million.

Engels is the fourth central defender to be signed by Villa this summer, following the arrivals of Kortney Hause, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.

Boss Dean Smith is a long-term admirer of Engels and previously tried to sign him last summer while still in charge of Brentford.

A graduate of Club Brugge’s academy, the defender is also a former team-mate of Villa’s record signing, Brazilian striker Wesley Moraes.

Smith said: "Bjorn is a player that I've been watching for the past 18 months.

"We're very happy to have secured his services and look forward to working with him."

Engels has joined Villa’s pre-season training camp in the USA, with Smith’s team set to face Minnesota United in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Manchester City midfielder Douglas Luiz is expected to become Villa’s ninth signing of the summer in the coming days.

“I’m very excited and very happy to be here,” said Engels. “It has always been a dream for me to play in the Premier League.

“Things have happened very quickly. I like the style the manager wants to play and I think I will fit in.