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FA must take time to consider how it deals with convicted criminals, says expert
9 January 2015
A leading sports law expert has urged the Football Association (FA) to take time to consider how it moves on from the Ched Evans saga.
Convicted rapist Evans saw a move to Oldham Athletic fall through this week as the Boundary Park outfit bowed to external pressure, making a return to football look increasingly unlikely for the Welsh striker.
The collapsed deal followed similar public outrage when Evans, who was released from prison in October after serving half of a five-year sentence, was invited to train with former club Sheffield United.
FA chairman Greg Dyke stated on Friday that the governing body saw "no basis" to "intervene directly" in the Evans case, but Jack Anderson - a law professor at Queen's University Belfast - has urged a measured approach to planning how to deal with similar cases in future.
"The Ched Evans case is a relatively unusual scenario and there's a lot of intense speculation about it," he told Perform. "If I was giving the FA advice on this, with regards to guidelines in the future, it would be to take the time to consider it.
"Pinning a set of rules on one particular case can mean that those particular rules don't endure."
Some who have backed Evans to make a return to the game have pointed to the cases of Lee Hughes and Luke McCormick, who both made comebacks after being convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.
And Anderson says football's law makers will have some difficult questions to consider regarding how they deal with convicted criminals moving forward.
"It's a very difficult and sensitive issue and, with the Ched Evans case, the question that has to be asked is: Is there an extra stigma when it comes to someone who is a sex offender?," he continued.
"Hughes returned to Oldham after being involved in a fatal driving crash, and similarly with McCormick.
"In essence they killed people, but they returned to football.
"Then you have Ched Evans, who continues to be on the sex offenders register.
"It's very difficult to have a policy that can encapsulate all of the nuances of what's going on, and anyone who says otherwise is being almost simplistic about it.
"These are difficult and sensitive case-by-case scenarios and they have to be taken in that context.
"I imagine that any potential rule would be pretty similar to the fit and proper rule that applies to owners in the sense that it would be guidelines. Ultimately it is a moral and ethical issue for football.
"These are very sensitive and legal issues, and how that plays out for football is not something that is easily discussed, and certainly not something that could be easily formulated into policy guidelines."
The FA can set some guidelines but ultimately it is the fans who have the say like in this recent case of the convicted rapist. If the fans are vocal enough the clubs will not dare to go against the tide.
Arsenal 3-0 Stoke City: Alexis stars as Gunners move above Spurs The tireless Chilean scored twice and set up Laurent Koscielny for another as Arsene Wenger's men convincingly bounced back from defeat to Southampton
Burnley 2-1 QPR: Ings winner piles pressure on Redknapp The Clarets striker danced his way through the visitors' back line to slot past Rob Green, rising Sean Dyche's side out of the relegation zone while pouring pressure onto Rangers
Leicester 1–0 Aston Villa: Konchesky piles the pressure on Lambert The former England left-back struck from the edge of the box as his left-footed effort sailed past Brad Guzan as Nigel Pearson's men took a much-needed three points
Everton 1-1 Manchester City: Pellegrini's men fall behind Chelsea again Fernandinho looked to have secured all three points for Manuel Pellegrini's men when he nodded in a deflected David Silva shot but Steven Naismith swiftly equalised
Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle: Oscar & Costa get Mourinho back to winning ways The Brazilian gave the Blues the lead against the run of play in the first half before setting up the Spaniard to notch his 15th Premier League goal of the season
West Brom 1-0 Hull City: Berahino strike hands Pulis first victory The England Under-21 international fired home from an indirect free-kick as the Baggies recorded just a third home league win of the season
Swansea 1–1 West Ham: Noble error gifts Swans a point Andy Carroll broke the deadlock with a stunning effort in the first half but Garry Monk's team fought back to claim a draw
Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool: Markovic makes his mark to seal victory The Serb netted his first Premier League goal as Brendan Rodgers' resurgent men extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games
The Dutchman has spent over €180 million on new talent since taking the reins at Old Trafford but he maintains that there are no financial stumbling blocks for the club
Louis van Gaal insists "money doesn't play any role" in Manchester United's transfer policy.
United have spent over €180 million since Van Gaal's arrival at the club, acquiring the likes of Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Marcos Rojo as part of a major squad revamp, while ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes completed his move to Old Trafford earlier this week.
And Van Gaal says that the club will continue to spend whatever he deems necessary as he continues to reshape the playing staff at Old Trafford.
"When I cannot improve my selection, then I wait," he told reporters. "And then I maybe have to wait a year more. Maybe you think that there are so many fantastic players, but it is not like that.
"[However,] I don't [necessarily] prefer to wait until the summer when I can improve my selections. That I have showed with Valdes.
"When we can buy a player who can improve my selection, the club shall buy. Money is not interesting. It is always quality of the players in comparison with the other players that I have. I have to compare. I have to decide. Money doesn't play any role."
Van Gaal has assembled a fearsome attacking triumvirate since taking the United reins, with Falcao, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney all vying for a starting spot.
But he has promised United fans that he will improve the club's "quality" in the final third over the duration of his tenure.
"Now that I coach Manchester United, I expect more attacking quality," he added. "If it is not this year, then next season or the season after that. We shall improve and you shall see it."
Arsenal full-back Mathieu Debuchy is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Stoke City.
Debuchy was carried off on a stretcher just 13 minutes into Arsenal's 3-0 Premier League victory on Sunday after a slight push from Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic sent him crashing into the advertising hoardings behind David Ospina's goal.
And Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger confirmed that Debuchy sustained a dislocated shoulder in the incident and therefore faces another lengthy lay-off.
Debuchy spent nearly three months out of action earlier in the season after undergoing ankle surgery.
"It's dislocated so will take a while," said the Frenchman. "He will have to see a specialist."
In more positive news for Wenger, Sunday's game heralded the long-awaited return of Mesut Ozil.
Arsenal's record signing - who had not played since October due to a knee problem - came on as a late substitute at the Emirates Stadium.
Wenger said that while Ozil is now ready to play, it will take the German up to three weeks to regain full match sharpness.
"He lacks match fitness but he's fit physically," he added.
"He'll be back fully in two to three weeks."
Arsenal were superb throughout Sunday's game, with Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic making a number of fine saves to keep the score down to 3-0.
The pattern of the match was in stark contrast to the reverse fixture last month, when Stoke raced out of the blocks and went in at half-time three goals to the good.
This time around it was Arsenal who made all the early running, with Laurent Koscielny heading them in front after just six minutes before the outstanding Alexis Sanchez scored either side of the break.
And Wenger was thrilled with the way his team had learned their lesson from the Britannia Stadium.
"We missed the start of the game at Stoke and paid for it," he added.
Simon Mignolet has returned to the first team after an injury to Brad Jones and, though the Reds manager has confidence in the Belgian, he wants to bolster his options
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has set his sights on bringing a new goalkeeper to Anfield in the January transfer window.
With Simon Mignolet woefully out of form and the injured Brad Jones's contract expiring in June, Rodgers has few options to choose from between the posts.
The 21-year-old Danny Ward has made the step up from Liverpool's reserve team to provide back-up to Mignolet - dropped by Rodgers in December after a string of poor outings - as Jones battles a thigh injury.
Mignolet's abilities were once again put in the spotlight as his inability to handle a high ball helped AFC Wimbledon draw level in Liverpool's FA Cup third-round trip to Kingsmeadow and Rodgers accepts he needs to bolster his options.
"I think we need a goalkeeper of some sort; it's just depending on how long Brad Jones is going to be out injured," he told reporters.
"We are obviously down and have got two young inexperienced keepers behind Simon, who is only just back in the team, so we need to assess that."
Rodgers believes that the source of Mignolet's lack of confidence is a struggle with the demands placed upon him to contribute to Liverpool's possession-based game. Previous first-choice Pepe Reina was regarded as one of the Premier League's finest distributors, with the Belgian unable to fill the Spaniard's shoes fully so far.
"Simon was at the time we were watching him, and still is, a wonderful shot-stopper," Rodgers insisted.
"He makes big saves but the adaptation for him is coming into a big team where you are not having to make as many saves and therefore concentration is important and you probably have more touches of the ball with your feet than what he might have expected.
"He has come in here under massive expectation to replace a player who was outstanding for Liverpool for seven or eight years.
"He is trying to develop areas of his game. He knows he needs to improve with his feet and he is working hard on that on a daily basis. He is analysing the games and working with the coach and doing everything he can to be the best he can be."
Pellegrini: Manchester City finishing not good enough
By Jack Davies
Jan 10, 2015 18:44:00
Steven Naismith cancelled out Fernandinho's opener to rescue a point for Everton, meaning Chelsea moved two points clear of the Premier League champions at the top of the table
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini bemoaned his side's first-half profligacy following their 1-1 draw at Everton.
The Premier League champions came into the fixture level with Chelsea at the top of the table, and Fernandinho's 74th-minute header gave City the advantage at Goodison Park.
However, Steven Naismith earned Everton a share of the spoils after Joe Hart had needlessly rushed off his line from a Leighton Baines free-kick, allowing Jose Mourinho's side to move two points clear at the summit.
And Pellegrini says City were foolish if they thought a goal 15 minutes from time would be enough to win the game.
"I think we really dominated the game, especially in the first half," he said. "We had clear chances, but we didn't score.
"Fifteen minutes are a lot of minutes. You cannot think that because you are winning 1-0 and there are 15 minutes left that you have already won the game.
"We knew that Everton were a difficult team from set-pieces. They had their chances and they scored."
Pellegrini believes there might have been a different outcome if City had taken their chances while they were on top during the opening period.
"We never think before the game that this is an easy game to play," he added. "Always at Goodison Park Everton is a very good team.
"If the whole game was exactly the same as the second half, maybe it was a good draw, but I cannot forget about what happened during the first 45 minutes when we had too many clear chances.
"We played really well, which I am really pleased about, but we didn't finish well."
Berahino giving nothing away over West Brom future
11 January 2015
In-form striker Saido Berahino was coy over his future after scoring West Brom's winner against Hull City at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
Berahino's 14th goal of the season 13 minutes from time ensured Tony Pulis won his first Premier League game in charge of West Brom.
The 21-year-old forward also scored four times in a 7-0 FA Cup hammering of Gateshead a week earlier in Pulis' first match at the helm.
Liverpool and Tottenham are among the clubs reportedly interested in signing West Brom's leading scorer this month, but Pulis has stressed that he is eager to add to his squad rather than lose key players.
Berahino, who got his first England call-up in November, was giving nothing away over a potential move this month after scoring his sixth goal in his last three games to move Pulis' side up to 14th place.
He said: "I'm playing, I can't complain. I'm starting to score goals again, which I'm enjoying. That's as far as it goes.
"Obviously I've got big ambitions, but at the moment I'm a West Brom player and I'm enjoying my football.
"There are always rumours going around, but I can't control anything. The only thing I can control is what I do on the field."
Swansea City manager Garry Monk has backed Bafetimbi Gomis to fill the void left by the expected departure of Wilfried Bony.
Bony is currently away with the Ivory Coast squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, but appears to be on the verge of a big-money move to Manchester City.
Gomis has been challenged to grasp his opportunity in the Swansea first team, and provided the header that led to Mark Noble's equalising own goal in a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Saturday.
Nelson Oliveira - on loan from Benfica - came off the bench against West Ham to make his debut, but Monk has made it clear that Gomis is his first-choice striker in the absence of Bony.
"Bafe's a top striker," he said. "I've seen a lot of strikers in my time and he's up there.
"I prepared for this period anyway with Wilfried going to the African Nations, so I knew I'd have to prepare for this four-to-six-week period anyway, no matter what the situation was.
"I brought Bafe in in the summer and he's worked very well.
"I know he's been frustrated in terms of game time but, in the games he has played, he's shown his quality.
"Now he'll have a perfect run. You've seen today the quality that he has, and I'm sure in the next few weeks we'll see an even better Bafe."
Arsene Wenger fuels doubts over Wojciech Szczesny's future after win over Stoke without Polish goalkeeper
Frenchman fails to assuage concerns about 'number one' Wojciech Szczesny as Pole looks uncertain for starting role against Manchester City next week
Cold on the bench: Wojciech Szczesny watches Arsenal's 3-0 success over Stoke close to manager Arsene Wenger Photo: REX
By Jeremy Wilson
6:30PM GMT 11 Jan 2015
Arsene Wenger has further fuelled doubts about Wojciech Szczesny’s Arsenal future by first dropping his goalkeeper against Stoke City and then refusing to explain the reason or the Poland international’s reaction to the decision.
Szczesny had expected to be playing and it is understood that he even arrived at The Emirates on Sunday believing that he remained first-choice goalkeeper and would start. Wenger then gave a bizarre response when asked how Szczesny took the news. “I don’t know, but how can you take a decision?” said Wenger. “You know how you can take a decision.”
Wenger had disciplined Szczesny for smoking in the dressing-room after the 2-0 defeat against Southampton in Arsenal’s previous Premier League game but was adamant that his decision was not directly linked to that indiscretion. He was unwilling, though, to offer any detail beyond suggesting that he would only have to misinform journalists if he expanded on the subject.
“I don’t want to talk too much about that because the more I talk, the less I inform you,” he said. Szczesny’s replacement, David Ospina, was barely involved and there were few clues as to Wenger’s thinking for the match at Manchester City next Sunday. “I don’t know, I haven’t made a decision yet,” he said. “I made a decision for today’s game. Szcesny is our number one. He is competing with Ospina and [Emiliano] Martinez and that’s our job. We have to accept that.”
Wenger had claimed on Friday that he was happy with Szczesny’s development this season. It all suggests that there may also have been concerns about the 24-year-old’s state of mind after all the spotlight on him this week. As well as the smoking incident, Szczesny has had to deal with his father entering in to the debate and publicly describing the Arsenal defence as an “embarrassment”.
That defence was further weakened on Sunday by confirmation that Mathieu Debuchy has suffered a dislocated shoulder after being pushed towards the advertising boards during a challenge with Marko Arnautovic. Wenger said that the challenge “did not look bad” and Stoke manager Mark Hughes was adamant that it had been an accident. “There was no malice or intent,” said Hughes.
Kieran Gibbs is also currently injured while Calum Chambers was missing with sickness. Wenger confirmed that he is still seeking to sign a defender, with Nacho Monreal also hurt on Sunday after being struck by Peter Crouch’s elbow. “I think Crouch was using his arms but overall it wasn’t a dirty game,” said Wenger. “We kept it clean because we moved the ball well.”
Hughes accepted that his team had been well beaten, with the club subsequently then forced to change their travel plans and return by coach amid delays on the trains.
Man Utd 0 Southampton 1, match report: Saints remain on course for Champions League thanks to Dusan Tadic
Manchester United v Southampton, Premier League – Louis van Gaal's side turn to long ball game in side's worst display since Dutchman's arrival at Old Trafford
Dusan Tadic and his Southampton team-mates celebrate the Serbian's match-winner at Old Trafford Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent, at Old Trafford
6:00PM GMT 11 Jan 2015
Barring the defeat for the third string at MK Dons, this was surely Manchester United’s worst display under Louis van Gaal. Ending with long balls to Marouane Fellaini, United looked listless, shapeless and lacking idea, conjuring up echoes of the grimmer moments under David Moyes last season. United did not manage one shot on target.
Van Gaal is an experienced, talented coach but this was a deeply worrying performance. Southampton, recording their first win here in 27 years, were superior in all departments. Their belief was stronger, their hunger for the ball greater, their organisation better. Jose Fonte was exceptional at the back, Morgan Schneiderlin dominated midfield while Dusan Tadic took his chance expertly. Southampton’s supporters loved it, chanting “the Saints are staying up” as they rose above United into the third place, climbing above such a celebrated side.
Southampton’s manager, Ronald Koeman, had listed all the “great players” that Van Gaal could call upon, listing that “you have Di Maria, you have Falcao, you have Van Persie, you have Rooney, you have Mata…” Falcao did not even make the United bench, simply rested according to Van Gaal, but how United could have done with the Colombian late on, especially with Van Persie having limped off after an hour, especially with Mata missing a couple of great chances.
United began with plenty of attacking promise in their line-up which made their shot-shy display so bewildering. Di Maria started in support of Van Persie with Rooney and Mata pushing through the middle in a 3-3-2-2 system. Daley Blind returned to action, slotting into the back-three to the left of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw were the wing-backs with Michael Carrick anchoring. It looked a strong side, surely capable of winning, which further added to the supporters’ eventual frustration.
Van Gaal seemed to be giving a glimpse of the future, of his tactical template but United laboured against Koeman’s upbeat, well-organised side. Attention was immediately drawn to the duel between Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne, who is being tipped to follow his England team-mate from St Mary’s to Old Trafford. Clyne impressed from the first minute, rushing forward, exchanging passes with Graziano Pelle and then snaking a low shot across the face of David De Gea’s goal.
The first half will not live long in the memory, except for masochists. It was poor, particularly the final ball and also the finishing. There were four shots from United, two from Southampton, none on target. The outstanding pair of Victor Wanyama and Schneiderlin were shielding Southampton’s back-four well, closing down the space around Rooney and Mata.
James Ward-Prowse and Steven Davis were similarly tireless in midfield while Southampton supporters had their first glimpse of Eljero Elia, the left-winger signed on loan from Werder Bremen who was dropped from the Dutch squad during Van Gaal’s reign. Elia did little of note in the first half, put in a couple of decent turns after the break but was replaced by Tadic after 62 minutes in what proved an inspired substitution by Koeman.
Southampton’s first change came after 19 minutes when Toby Alderweireld pulled his left thigh muscle, clearing a cross from Rooney. This was frustrating for the centre-half and Southampton as Alderweireld has been one of their best performers this season but they held firm with Fonte exceptional. As Florin Gardos came on rather slowly to partner Fonte, United were allowed to re-start the game by Phil Dowd, culminating in Di Maria shooting wide. Southampton fumed at United’s opportunism.
The game meandered along. Fonte headed wide. Valencia decided to cut the ball back, when Old Trafford was willing him to shoot. Southampton duly cleared. Valencia then did break through after 33 minutes but Gardos blocked well. Gardos, the £4m signing from Steaua Bucharest, then suffered a nervy moment, allowing Di Maria to dart forward and try to pick out Mata but it was an easy catch for Fraser Forster.
The England keeper was briefly busy. Rooney charged forward, slipping the ball left to Van Persie, whose shot was blocked by Gardos. The ball looped up and was clutched comfortably by Forster. Jones then guided the ball through to Di Maria, whose shot flew wide. For such celebrated attacking quality, United were very average.
Southampton were better, hungrier, more organised. As Southampton attacked early in the second half, Shaw did well to clear from under the feet of Pelle but it was Smalling’s constant grasping of the Southampton centre-forward’s shirt that annoyed the visitors. Dowd was showing surprising largesse to Smalling.
Van Persie then departed, having fouled Fonte, been booked, and hurt himself, bringing Ander Herrera on. Rooney pushed upfront. United fans were getting frustrated, some chanting “attack, attack, attack”. United continued to lack a focus. Jones’ cross was easily held by Forster.
Van Gaal had rejigged his defence, sending on Tyler Blackett for Shaw, moving Blind to left wing-back. Question-marks have clung to United’s back-line all season, deepening here. The Jones-Smalling-Blackett line was badly caught out after 69 minutes. Tadic had been on the pitch only six minutes but made a super impact. He ran forward, feeding the ball to Pelle, whose shot struck the post, and rebounded. As United defenders hesitated, Tadic calmly stroked the ball into the net from 15 yards. Tadic immediately ran towards the jubilant visiting fans, ripped off his shirt, displaying his rippling abdomen and was duly booked.
Van Gaal played his final card, sending on Fellaini for Di Maria. The tall Belgian played far forward, close to Rooney, yet there was little high-class service from the flanks, beyond some good balls from Blind. Attacking the Stretford End, United did start playing with greater urgency. Mata missed a good opportunity and then shot wide, both from Blind deliveries.
Koeman removed Davis, sending on young Harrison Reed with 10 minutes remaining. Southampton held out comfortably, and Koeman punched the air at the final whistle. Van Gaal has work to do, starting with a painful inquest.
Premier League strugglers Aston Villa have completed the signing of Valencia's Carles Gil on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
The Spain Under-21 international, who has scored one goal in eight Liga appearances, has signed a deal until 2019 after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.
Gil is looking forward to the challenge of playing in a new country, although he must wait for international clearance before a date for his Villa debut can be set.
"Once I knew that this club was interested in me I wanted to join," he told the club's official website.
"I am really looking forward to playing here and showing the fans what I can do.
"I can play on either side or in the middle of midfield and I like playing as part of the team, making things happen for my teammates."
The 22-year-old midfielder broke into the first team at Mestalla this season and his performances have impressed Villa boss Paul Lambert.
He hopes Gil can provide the creative spark as Villa look to improve a woeful goal record of 11 in 21 league games.
"We've been on the lookout for a creative player and he will certainly bring that extra element to the side," the Scot added.
"He's only 22 years of age but he will come here and give us something I don't think we have at the moment. He can play either role, coming in off the sides or playing in behind as well.
"He can create chances and get those chances put away. He has a lot to offer and I know we can get the best out of him."
Villa sit 13th in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.
The Football Association (FA) has charged Leicester City and Aston Villa with failing to control their players during last Saturday's match.
A number of players from both teams were involved in a fracas in injury time of the Premier League fixture at the King Power Stadium following a poor tackle by Leicester's Matty James on Villa defender Jores Okore.
Referee Michael Oliver showed James a straight red card for his challenge, and Villa's Ciaran Clark was then handed a second yellow for confronting the Leicester midfielder.
A melee involving numerous players ensued and the FA announced on Tuesday that the Midlands clubs have both been charged.
"It is alleged that during added time at the end of the second half, both clubs failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or restrained from provocative behaviour," an FA statement read.
"The clubs have until 6pm on 16 January 2015 to respond to the charge."
Paul Konchesky's first-half goal gave bottom-placed Leicester a 1-0 victory over Villa, who have now gone six Premier League games without a win.
Jelavic and Hernandez latest to join Hull injury list
13 January 2015
Hull City's injury nightmare continues with the news Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez could both miss up to six weeks.
The pair were both substituted during Hull's 1-0 defeat to West Brom on Saturday, and scans have shown the extent of their problems.
Jelavic was substituted after 33 minutes at the Hawthorns having taken a knock to his knee, and scans have shown he will be out for between three and six weeks despite suffering no serious damage.
Hernandez limped off six minutes later, with the club confirming on Tuesday he had suffered a small tear of his abductor muscle, ruling him out for up to six weeks.
The duo are the latest to join a growing injury list at the KC Stadium with Mohamed Diame (knee), Andrew Robertson (ankle), Liam Rosenior (hamstring) and Robert Snodgrass (knee) all long-term absentees.
However, Steve Bruce could have Gaston Ramirez and Sone Aluko back for their trip to West Ham on Sunday.
The pair picked up groin and calf injuries respectively in recent weeks and had been expected to be sidelined for a significant period of time, however both are making quick recoveries.
A club update confirmed Snodgrass - injured 40 minutes into his league debut for the club - will not return from a dislocated kneecap before the beginning of next season.
Peter Crouch said he wants to sign a new deal with Stoke City amid interest from West Brom.
Crouch is out of contract at the end of the 2014-15 Premier League season and the ex England international is rumoured to be a target of former manager Tony Pulis, who is now in charge at The Hawthorns.
Pulis signed Crouch from Tottenham in August 2011 but the towering 33-year-old is happy to stay at Stoke.
"I don't know what will happen in the future but at the moment, for the foreseeable future, I am happy playing for Stoke," Crouch said.
"My contract is up at the end of the season so I don't know what the future will hold, but at the moment I will just continue to do what I do – that is work hard and hopefully score some goals.
"It is nice to hear when the manager has got belief in you and hopefully I can stay here for a few more years after this.
"I think it has been a good season and that we can finish in the top half of the league.
"Apart from at Arsenal we have been in every game we have played. Even in the games we have lost we have given a good account of ourselves."
Premier League strugglers Aston Villa have completed the signing of Valencia's Carles Gil on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
The Spain Under-21 international, who has scored one goal in eight Liga appearances, has signed a deal until 2019 after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.
Gil is looking forward to the challenge of playing in a new country, although he must wait for international clearance before a date for his Villa debut can be set.
"Once I knew that this club was interested in me I wanted to join," he told the club's official website.
"I am really looking forward to playing here and showing the fans what I can do.
"I can play on either side or in the middle of midfield and I like playing as part of the team, making things happen for my teammates."
The 22-year-old midfielder broke into the first team at Mestalla this season and his performances have impressed Villa boss Paul Lambert.
He hopes Gil can provide the creative spark as Villa look to improve a woeful goal record of 11 in 21 league games.
"We've been on the lookout for a creative player and he will certainly bring that extra element to the side," the Scot added.
"He's only 22 years of age but he will come here and give us something I don't think we have at the moment. He can play either role, coming in off the sides or playing in behind as well.
"He can create chances and get those chances put away. He has a lot to offer and I know we can get the best out of him."
Villa sit 13th in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.
Arsenal have confirmed striker Yaya Sanogo will spend the rest of the Premier League season on loan at Crystal Palace.
The 21-year-old has struggled for first team action at the Emirates Stadium since his arrival from Auxerre in 2013, and has just one competitive goal for the club - against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League in November.
Bordeaux had been strongly linked with a temporary move for the striker, but Palace have won the race for his signature, making him Alan Pardew's first signing at Selhurst Park.
Palace's new boss is looking forward to seeing the France Under-21 international in action having admired his talent while with former club Newcastle United.
"He's a young player with tremendous promise, somebody that I have tracked personally and this club has too so that fitted well," he told Palace's official website.
"We have given him an opportunity, he needs to play more games and I think he's ready for that and he proved that at Arsenal.
"It's tough to get in their team but he's closer to the starting action with us."
Sanogo will go straight into the Palace squad for Saturday's crucial Premier League clash with fellow strugglers Burnley at Turf Moor.
Brad Guzan says Aston Villa's players are to blame for their poor Premier League form, and not manager Paul Lambert.
After claiming three victories in their opening four matches of the campaign, Villa have managed just two wins since and find themselves three points above the relegation zone.
Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Leicester - Villa's sixth successive match without a win - saw Lambert's men fail to find the back of the net for the 12th time in 21 games.
Supporters turned on Lambert at the Walkers Stadium, but Guzan insists the players are the ones at fault.
"When you go through difficult times everyone has got to take their criticism," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"The manager has been brilliant in defending us but we are the ones who have to score goals. He can't go and score for us and the coaching staff can't score for us.
"Us players have to take responsibility and I know the fans are unhappy, we hear them during the game, but they need to realise it's a difficult moment for the players and fans but we need to stick together.
"Regardless if they are unhappy with the manager or situation, we need to stick together and work hard in training because it's about the club.
"We are trying to score goals. We're not purposefully going out there saying: 'Let's just keep the ball and forget about trying to go forward'."
A daunting run of fixtures awaits Villa, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea representing their next three Premier League opponents.
The agent of Radamel Falcao believes his client will not be short of options when his Manchester United loan expires.
The Colombia striker joined United from Monaco in September in a deal that runs until the end of the season, but has failed to nail down a regular spot in Louis van Gaal's starting XI.
Falcao was left out of United's matchday squad for Sunday's 1-0 home defeat to Southampton, but agent Jorge Mendes believes he will find another top club if Van Gaal decides against offering the 28-year-old a permanent deal.
Mendes is widely quoted as saying in the British media: "I don't know [where Falcao's future lies]. He is a fantastic player, and I think it's very difficult for Manchester United fans.
"They have an absolutely brilliant player, one of the very best in the world, who would without any doubt play 90 minutes of the match, every time, with any other club.
"The truth is, right now we don't know what will happen. What we do know is that he will play in one of the very best clubs in the world next season, whether that is Manchester United or not.
"I am 100 per cent sure of that. But you know how football works, we need to wait a little. We'll see what happens."
Falcao has scored three goals in 12 Premier League appearances for United, making seven starts.
Manager Sam Allardyce insists Ravel Morrison has wasted his talent at West Ham and must "change his whole life" to fulfil his potential.
West Ham are willing to let Morrison leave the club for free in the January transfer window after running out of patience with the 21-year-old midfielder, whose football career has been plagued by off-field and on-field indiscretions.
When Morrison transferred from Manchester United to West Ham three years ago, Alex Ferguson told Allardyce he was picking up a "brilliant footballer" with "top-class ability", who simply needed to "get away from Manchester and start a new life".
But speaking on Monday, Allardyce claimed Morrison had failed to make the most of his second chance in the Premier League, and conceded he could not watch the former England youth international stagnate any longer.
"Most young talented players I worked with over many, many years who I've met later have said, 'Oh, I wish I'd listened to you'," Allardyce said.
"When you meet them later in life they regret not taking the opportunity with the talent they had. It's never just about talent, it's about a lot more than that.
"You can lead the horse to water but you can't make it drink. There's only a certain amount of times you can tell somebody what they should or shouldn't be doing. If they don't want to take it on board there's little you can do.
"It's very difficult to sit and watch such a great talent wasted. In Ravel's position, the talent is there, he just has to change his whole life and then hopefully somewhere down the line he'll become the player he should be."
According to reports, Lazio are keen on signing Morrison, with West Ham only asking for a percentage of any further sale, while there is also speculation that two other clubs based on the continent, plus two Premier League sides, are interested.
But Morrison's reputation for violence off the field - he has admitted to witness intimidation, plus been charged but never convicted of assault - as well as a number of stories about his lack of commitment to training means Allardyce wonders if the midfielder can find a new employer.
Morrison has been on loan at Birmingham City, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City while on the books at Upton Park.
But his stint at Cardiff late last year appears to have been the last straw for West Ham, as he was sent back to London early after just seven appearances, with the Welsh club's manager Russell Slade bemoaning Morrison's inconsistency at training and in games.
"Rav didn't perform at Cardiff," Allardyce said.
"He went there to play games of football and try and reinvent himself. If he'd have done the business there he could have created a much more healthy position.
"He has left himself in a very difficult position now."
