Aston Villa have announced that they have wrapped up the signing of Bournemouth defender Tommy Elphick. Elphhick, 28, moves to the Championship club for a fee reported to be around £3 million, and has signed a three-year deal. He becomes Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo's first signing as the Italian manager looks to reshape his squad and challenge for a return to the Premier League. "I'm really pleased to bring Tommy to the football club, Di Matteo told Villa's official website. "He is a fantastic player and also a fantastic character, which is very important. He knows what is required to win promotion to the Premier League." Elphick boasts a wealth of Championship experience from his time at Bournemouth and helped the Cherries win promotion to the Premier League two seasons ago. The 28-year-old made just 14 appearances last season due to injury and, with Bournemouth looking to add to their defensive options during the transfer window, may have found first-team opportunities limited next season. Villa agreed a fee for Elphick last week, with the player cutting short his honeymoon to hold talks and undergo a medical.
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