Villa clinch record Angel signing

Juan Pablo Angel (left) will arrive in early January

Colombian international striker Juan Pablo Angel has joined Aston Villa for £9.5m, subject to a medical.

Villa manager John Gregory has made no secret of his desire to sign a forward and he has broken the club record in signing Angel from Argentine club River Plate.

The deal was clinched in the early hours of Friday morning after protracted negotiations between both clubs and Angel's advisors were completed.

"I am delighted to have signed him," said Gregory. "I have said for quite a while that we have a comfort zone up front in terms of not having enough competition among the strikers.

"Juan will provide that and his goalscoring record is excellent, but he is technically also a very talented player. His record year by year with River Plate has got better."

Gregory is aware Angel will have to play in the Copa America next summer, rather than recharge his batteries and then five World Cup qualifiers between August and November.

Expressed desire

The deal is still subject to Angel passing a medical and Villa securing a work permit and international clearance but the club do not envisage any problems.

Angel will fly to Birmingham after Christmas and could make his Villa debut at home in the Premiership encounter with Leicester City on December 30.

Villa have signed Angel after their long-term interest in Celta Vigo's South African international Benni McCarthy is believed to have faltered on the £13m to £14m price tag.

Angel has scored 17 goals in 17 games for River Plate and also played in eight of Colombia's 10 World Cup qualifiers, scoring one goal.

The 25-year-old striker, who joined River Plate in 1998 from Colombian club Atletico Nacional, said: "I've watched English football a lot on television.

"To leave here and go and play in the Premiership is a challenge for me, but it's the right time in my career to try my luck abroad."

The club's previous record signing was £7m Stan Collymore and Villa are believed to have beaten German club Bayern Munich to sign the Colombian, who had expressed his desire to play in the Premiership.

Gregory, who is also tracking a South American midfielder, is hoping that signing Angel will also appease players like Paul Merson, David James and Gareth Southgate who have questioned the club's ambition.

He added: "I think generally when everything is going well and the team is within shouting distance of the Champions League, then it makes everyone a lot more settled throughout the club.

"I think it will pacify people for the time being, without question, although I am still hoping we will be able to get another couple of players as well."

Pictures courtesy of official River Plate club website.