Aston Villa have shown their faith in Micah Richards to recapture his best form by signing him on a four-year contract and offering him the chance to re-establish himself in the centre of their defence rather than as a full-back.
Villa confirmed on Wednesday that a deal had been completed for Richards to join on 1 July, with their manager, Tim Sherwood, considering using him as a centre-half amid growing doubts about Ron Vlaar’s future at the club.
Vlaar is approaching the end of his contract, with several offers elsewhere, and one of the reasons Sherwood was tempted by Richards is because the 26-year-old started his career in that central role. Richards eventually moved to the right-back spot for Manchester City but likes the idea of the positional change and the opportunity to find regular first-team football. He is on a free transfer after reaching the end of his contract at Manchester City.
Richards has spent the last year on loan at Fiorentina and, while enjoying his time in Serie A, it was always in his mind to return to the Premier League. Sunderland had also spoken to him at length about joining them as a centre-back and there was interest from Everton and West Ham United in the player who, at 18, took Rio Ferdinand’s record as the youngest defender to win an England cap.
In total, Richards has made 13 appearances for England but none since February 2012 when Stuart Pearce stepped in as interim manager after Fabio Capello’s departure.
Sherwood told Villa’s website: “I’m really pleased to get Micah on board and I’m sure he will prove to be an excellent signing for the football club.”
