Aston Villa have signed defender Ritchie De Laet from Leicester on a three-year deal, the Sky Bet Championship club have announced.
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The 27-year-old made 12 Premier League appearances for Leicester last term, scoring against Villa and earning a title winner’s medal.
The former Belgian worldwide has signed a three-year deal with the club, and becomes Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo’s seventh signing of the summer.
De Laet also played a part in Middlesbrough’s successful promotion campaign to the top flight during a short loan spell at the Riverside.
In a statement confirming his departure, Leicester said: “We thank him for his hard work and wish him every success”.
Xia played down his own role in the transfers, but heaped praise upon manager Roberto Di Matteo, coaches Steve Clarke and Kevin Bond, chief executive Keith Wyness and new technical director Steve Round for pushing through the deals.
De Laet was not been given a squad number this season and was told by Ranieri it was best for him to look for another club.
‘He is another player who not only has Championship experience but has also played a part in helping a team win promotion back to the Premier League’.
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De Laet is expected to go straight into the squad for this weekend’s clash with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
