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Aston Villa have signed a surprise deal to sign Calum Chambers on a permanent basis from Arsenal, it has been confirmed.
Villa have had a productive transfer window in the first of January in the Steven Gerrard era. They have already picked up Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Digne and Robin Olsen. But they also sought to add another center-back.
They lost Axel Tuanzebe midway through his tenure at Manchester United so he could join Napoli until the end of the season instead.
That left Gerrard with only Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause as senior center-backs. Therefore, though the latter has just signed a contract extensionfurther depth was needed.
There were no connections to Calum Chambers before the deal was announced, but it has been confirmed by both clubs Thursday evening.
The transfer is permanent and Chambers has signed a three and a half year contract until 2025.
He is able to play on the right back or middle half and provides coverage in the Villa back line.
Calum Chambers is a Villa! pic.twitter.com/CXwX1crnsR
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 27, 2022
The move brings an end to a seven-and-a-half year period as an Arsenal player after joining them from Southampton. He played 122 games for the club at the time and also endured loan spells with Middlesbrough and Fulham.
However, the 27-year-old is making just five appearances this season – including just two in the league – before sealing his departure from Arsenal.
His contract was due to expire this summer, but he has found a way out in advance. That leaves Arsenal with only Cedric Soares as backup for main right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Some reports have claimed that Villa did not have to pay a transfer fee for Chambers.
Calum Chambers explains the motives for the Aston Villa transfer
Although Villa are 10 points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table after every 21 games, Chambers does not believe he is making the wrong decision and can see Villa only go up.
He told their club website: “It’s a huge club and they’re in a great moment at the moment.
“It is a very exciting place to be, and everyone can see it from the outside. Things are happening here and it is definitely going in the right direction.
“For me, it was an easy thing to become a member of a great club. It was the right thing for me to do.”
The English national team player with three national teams is looking forward to working under Gerrard and playing in front of Villa fans.
He added: “It’s a great club, it’s a massive club. I’ve played at Villa Park a couple of times and it’s a great stadium with a great set of fans.
“The coach did very well at Rangers. He’s a young, exciting manager and I can not wait to work with him.
“It’s a great stage to get to the club on. The club is building momentum and it’s an exciting time to be here.
“You can really feel it in being in and around the building. You can feel the energy around the place.
“I feel like I’ve come along at a great time and I can’t wait to get started and give it my all.”
READ MORE: Aston Villa make contract decision contrary to Gerrard’s recent claim to star ‘valued very highly’
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