By Ryan Ghee
August 31 2005

Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma was yesterday unveiled as Aston Villa's sixth signing of the summer. He signed a three-year deal with the club after Aston Villa met a minimum fee release clause in his PSV Eindhoven contract. David O'Leary had been keen to sign a new defender after learning that Martin Laursen could be out for the remainder of the season. The Danish centre-back broke down in training with a recurrence of his knee injury and O'Leary decided to act quickly by bringing in a quality replacement.

Speaking to the press after signing a three-year contract with Villa, Bouma said, "I am really delighted to be joining Villa. It is a big club and I am really looking forward to playing for them in the Premier League.

"I know Aston Villa want to be challenging at the top of the table and I want to help. I want to do my best to improve the club."

The signing of Wilfred Bouma from PSV Eindhoven took only hours to complete as the defender flew in for a medical on Monday night, agreed personal terms on Tuesday morning and was unveiled as an Aston Villa player on Tuesday afternoon.