Villa sign Ginola from Spurs

Aston Villa have signed the French winger David Ginola from Tottenham Hotspur for £3 million.

The 33-year-old completed his move at the end of July, after meeting manager John Gregory and chairman Doug Ellis in Birmingham. He has signed a two-year contract.

A crowd pleaser

Ginola is one of the most gifted and entertaining players in the Premiership. His dribbling, trickery and eye for a spectacular goal have made him a favourite with supporters wherever he has played.

In 1999 he was named Player of the Year by both the Professional Footballers' Association and the Football Writers' Association, after an outstanding season for Spurs in which he helped them win the League Cup.

He joined Tottenham from Newcastle United in 1997, and scored 13 goals in around 100 games for the London club. Before that he starred for Newcastle under Kevin Keegan, and for Paris Saint-Germain in France.

Gregory's gamble

Gregory believes Ginola can bring flair and creativity to his side. Villa have been hard to beat but have lacked a spark in attack, and Ginola's ability to create chances could make a big difference.

The signing is something of a gamble. Ginola is in the later stages of his career, and there are questions about whether he can play every week in the Premiership.

But Gregory is confident that he can get the best out of the Frenchman, and that his experience will help Villa's younger players.

After Wembley

Villa reached the FA Cup final last season, losing 1-0 to Chelsea in the last final at the old Wembley Stadium. They finished sixth in the Premiership and will be looking to push on this season.

Ginola joins a squad that includes Benito Carbone, the Italian forward whose goals helped Villa reach the cup final, and a number of talented young players, such as Gareth Barry and Lee Hendrie.

Summer business

Villa have been busy in the transfer market this summer, as Gregory looks to strengthen his squad for a push towards Europe. The club will play in the Intertoto Cup this summer, which offers another route into the UEFA Cup.

Chairman Doug Ellis has backed his manager with money for new players, and fans are hoping that the club can build on last season's cup run.

The fans' view

Supporters have greeted the signing with excitement. Ginola is the kind of star player that fans love to watch.

Some are cautious, pointing to his age and his reputation for being inconsistent. But most are looking forward to seeing him in a Villa shirt when the new season starts in August.

For Ginola, it is a chance to show that he still has plenty to offer at the top level.