• Transfer News

Villa sign Senderos on two-year deal

Philippe Senderos left Fulham for Valencia in January © PA Photos

Enlarge

Aston Villa have announced that Philippe Senderos has joined the club on a two-year deal.

Senderos, formerly of Arsenal and Fulham, is moving to Villa Park on a free transfer following a six-month spell with Valencia.

The defender will fly out with the Swiss national side to Brazil tomorrow ahead of the World Cup after becoming Paul Lambert's first signing of the summer.

"I'm really delighted to be joining Aston Villa, a great club with such a big history, and for me this is a great step in my career," Senderos told the club's official website.

Delighted to have signed for Aston Villa! Really looking forward to defend my new colours @AVFCOfficial pic.twitter.com/OFHLmMsGxI

— Phil Senderos (@Philsend4) June 5, 2014

"There will be a lot of competition for places with Ron Vlaar, Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker and Jores Okore also very capable Premier League defenders, so it will be up to me to fight for and to earn my place in the team.

"This is a team and a club which wants to do better, I know this, and hopefully we can all develop together and create something special.

"My goal is to help the team keep as many clean sheets as we can and to help drive Villa where we deserve to be and want to be."

Swiss national coach Ottmar Hitzfeld - who was also Lambert's mentor at Borussia Dortmund - says that Senderos has "never disappointed on the pitch," and the centre-back is ready to use his experience to help Villa's young squad succeed.

First pictures of @philsend4 following his move to Villa. Full gallery here: http://t.co/kjRcRm78pH #AVFC pic.twitter.com/Ajq1iwgpyz

— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) June 5, 2014

"I have come to an age where I've learnt a lot under some great managers such as Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Ottmar Hitzfeld and I've built up a lot of experience," Senderos continued.

"I can develop further and continue to get better and this will be my goal - to continue to grow as a player, to help the team to grow and to contribute everything I can through the season.

"With Brad Guzan in Brazil with the USA squad and Ron Vlaar in the Dutch squad, that's a great deal of experience we'll be able to bring into the new season and, of course, Ciaran and Jores are also playing in their national teams. It's good to have this level of pedigree at the heart of the team's defence.

"I'm also excited to work with Paul Lambert whom I know has a great deal of respect also for Ottmar Hitzfeld and my challenge will be to vindicate the trust he has shown in bringing me to Villa."

Lambert marked out the defender's "strong mentality" and experience as key factors for signing him.

"He's played for some top sides and was a big influence in Arsenal's run to the Champions League final in 2006, so we're bringing in a really experienced player who's been there and done it and that will be important for the team," Lambert said.

"I went to Switzerland not long ago to watch the national team train and I could see he has a good, strong mentality for the game. Ottmar knows players and for him to say that Philippe has never disappointed him on the pitch, that's no small commendation.

"This will be Philippe's third World Cup finals and there aren't too many players who compete at that level over that stretch of time. He'll be a great addition to the group."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd