Aston Villa have this evening announced the signing of Australia international Brett Holman.
Rumours surfaced this afternoon that there was a player at Bodymoor Heath, and Mat Kendrick of the Birmingham Mail did confirm there was someone – but he wasn’t sure who and when a deal would be completed.
Despite his wikipedia page stating he is a second striker, Villa have said on the official site that he is in fact a winger.
The 27 year old currently plays his trade in the Dutch Eredivise league for league leaders AZ Alkmaar.
The Australian is described as a ‘very intelligent player, a great team player and a man who is recognised in the game as a non-stop, committed wide midfield player’ by manager Alex McLeish.
Holman said: “I’m delighted to have agreed terms with Aston Villa and I am looking forward to joining up with the team in the summer.
“Villa have a long and prestigious history in English football and a fantastic set of fans.
“In the meantime I have a job to do with AZ in trying to finish the season as Eredivisie champions, as cup winners and progressing as far as possible in the Europa competition.”
He has scored 81 goals in 332 games in his career, so that’s about 10 a season in the Australian league. Not an exciting record, is it?
Sorry, I have been very stupid. Had a I read the article properly I would have seen he is playing in the Netherlands. I still don’t think it is a great record though.
im sure this is what we need at this club
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1mvlNK3aG8
Dont know anything about the guy, but I certainly welcome him to Brum B6, and look forward to seeing him fight for a starting position in what will obviously be a much revamped Villa team as 2012-13 dawns.
A winger eh? Hopefully he can operate on the right flank, that being an area of the team that definitely needs strengthening and reworking.
I have watched him many times, he will hold his own and fight hard like most Aussie players but for me he isn’t the kind of signing we should be going after. It tells me two things that make me worry… 1. If Eck is signing players he is staying MAJOR WORRY. 2. That Randy’s ambitions are dead and he’s happy just to balance the books and survive. The future is bleak indeed.
I think that Bosman signings are the way to go AdzVilla11. I dont think we have too much choice in the matter. Cash is extremely tight, so two or three Bosman signings is probably the route we have to take.
The team/squad needs an overhaul. As a club we simply cant afford to sit still again this summer. We have to begin the rebuilding process, or failing that, yet again we’ll be left behind by clubs of similar standing, while premier league ‘minnows’, such as Norwich City, Swansea City, and West Bromwich Albion, will leave us trailing in their wake.
Lerner will not be throwing major funds McLeish’s (or whoever’s) way, that much is obvious, so whoever sits in the Villa Park hot-seat, will have to shop accordingly.
It should be an interesting and active summer down B6 way, and whoever the manager of this great club is to be, as we approach and enter the 2012-13 campaign, I dont envy the huge job he has on his hands one bit.
Don’t judge him on career record. Look at his last two seasons. Has been prolific for AZ and Australia. Scored goals against Serbia and Ghana in the World Cup in South Africa and has not looked back ever since.
It’s a very good player for you next summer, it is a great pity that he is going to leave our club AZ Alkmaar.
He works very hard and give never up and have a good assist.
i wish you very enjoy with our player Brett.
kind regards marcel from Alkmaar
Well looking at that video he wouldn’t get in the swansea side, thats for sure! But as we have become great at passing straight to the opposition, he might fit in at VP. I SUPPOSE THIS IS THE SORT OF SIGNING WE HAVE TO GET ‘EXCITED’ ABOUT FROM NOW ON,though as Adz says above, if McLeish is signing players for NEXT season, the future looks bleak indeed. Season ticket for2012-13, anyone???
AZ will miss him and he will do well for Villa. He plays as left winger or midfield. Villa fans be warned he will miss loads of chances, but he will never stop running and should be good for a lot of assists. Good player.
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[…] his years at Aston Villa, he was on a pre-contract agreement. Brett Holman became an official player on July 1st, 2012 and score during his debut against Burton Albion. But […]