Villa set to seal Sidwell deal

AFP - 9 July 2008 14:40

Chelsea´s English footballer Steve Sidwell (R) is tackled by Huddersfield Town footballer Chris Brandon during their FA Cup 5th round match at Stamford Bridge in London, February 2008. Aston Villa agreed a deal to end the midfielder´s Chelsea nightmare.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP) - Aston Villa agreed a deal to end Steve Sidwell's Chelsea nightmare on Wednesday.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill has been chasing Sidwell for several months and will finally get his man this week for a fee of around five million pounds (6.2 million euros) if he passes a medical.

A Villa statement said: "Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea's former England Under-21 midfielder Steve Sidwell, subject to a medical."

Sidwell endured a miserable time at Stamford Bridge, making just seven Premier League starts for Chelsea last season following his move from Reading.

He has been told by new Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari that he can leave and will join Villa's pre-season tour of Switzerland once the transfer is completed.

But Sidwell's arrival at Villa Park is unlikely to speed Gareth Barry's protracted move to Liverpool after O'Neill insisted he will only sell the England midfielder for 18 million pounds (22.6 million euros).