Aston Villa sign Sanson from Marseille for reported initial £14M fee

Aston Villa strengthened their midfield options with the signing of Morgan Sanson from Marseille on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old cost an initial £14-million fee, which will potentially rise to £15.5 million with add-ons, according to Matt Maher of the Express and Star. He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at Villa Park.

"Morgan has performed consistently at the highest level in French football for a number of seasons as well as in this season's Champions League, and is a player with the quality and experience to play in any midfield position," manager Dean Smith said.

"He will add real competition for starting places and gives us more squad depth which is vital to competing successfully in the Premier League," Smith continued.

Sanson's arrival follows last week's departure of fellow midfielder Conor Hourihane. The Irishman was granted a loan move to Swansea City in the Championship after he started only three Premier League matches in the opening half of the 2020-21 season.

Sanson made 220 Ligue 1 appearances during his spells at Montpellier and Marseille after starting his professional career in Ligue 2 with Le Mans.