Champions capture Young from Villa

England International moves to Old Trafford on a five-year contract from Villains after completing medical

Winger Ashley Young has signed a five-year contract with Manchester United after they agreed a fee with Aston Villa.
The 25-year-old England international underwent a medical yesterday and the transfer was finalised today.
He becomes Sir Alex Ferguson's second signing of the summer after the capture of England U-21 international Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers.
Villa signed Young from Watford in January 2007 and he went on to score 38 goals in 190 appearances.
However, he made it clear to Villa he would not be signing an extension to his contract, which was due to expire next summer, and the club had little alternative but to sell one of their prize assets.
The midfielder is United's second signing of the summer after the transfer of defender Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers. 

"Ashley has made a terrific contribution for Villa over the past four and a half seasons and everyone at the club wishes him the best for the future," new Villa manager Alex McLeish said.
"He has become an important player in the England team during that time and I'm sure he will be looking forward to this new challenge."
Young said the lure of Old Trafford proved too much for him to consider remaining at Villa.
"The opportunity to come and play for one of the biggest clubs in the world is one I couldn't turn down," he told MUTV. "It's a chance to hopefully become part of their history by helping to win the 20th title.
"It's a prospect I always looked at from being a child: to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world. I've got that opportunity now so I've just got to take it with two hands."


Ashley Young Factfile:
1985: July 9 - Born in Stevenage.
2000: Joins Watford as a youth player.
2002: Offered professional terms at Vicarage Road.
2003: September 13 - Makes Hornets debut, scoring as second-half substitute against Millwall. Young also scored in his next game against Derby, again as a replacement.
2005: August 9 - Scores first brace for Watford against Plymouth in the second game of the season after failing to find the net in the 2004/05 season.
2006: Jan 1 - Handed first senior red card against Luton.
February - Called up to England Under-21 Football League squad by boss Peter Taylor.
May 6 - Scores in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final against Crystal Palace, before playing 90 minutes in the 3-0 final victory over Leeds.
September: Called up to full England Under-21 squad, scoring in his first appearance against Switzerland.
October 2 - Scores first Barclays Premier League goals, hitting the target twice in Watford's 3-3 draw with Fulham.
2007: January 18 - Given permission to speak to Aston Villa about a possible transfer after the clubs agree a fee of which could rise to £9.65million. West Ham had earlier had a similar offer accepted but Young turned down the move.
Jan 20 - Young agrees to move to Villa Park.
January 31 - Scores against Newcastle on Villa debut.
June - Part of the England Under-21 squad for the European Championship in Holland, scores twice in a dramatic penalty shootout as England eventually lose 13-12 to the hosts in the semi-finals.
August 31 - Included in England squad for matches against Russia and Israel.
November 16 - Makes his England debut as a half-time replacement in a friendly against Austria.
2008: May - Is the only player outfield player outside the 'Big Four' to be selected in the Premier League team of the year.
December 7 - Scores two goals in Villa's 3-2 win over Everton and is hailed as "world class" and a "genius" by manager Martin O'Neill. Wins the player of the month award to make him the first player to win three in a year.
2009: April - Named PFA Young Player of the Year.
July 26 - Says he wants to remain at Villa despite attracting attention from the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea.
August 12 - Makes his first England start in the 2-2 draw with Holland in Amsterdam.
2010: May 11 -
Fails to make Fabio Capello's preliminary squad for the World Cup in South Africa.
October 12 - Makes first competitive start for England in 0-0 draw with Montenegro at Wembley.
October 22 - Tells Aston Villa he will not sign a new deal before the summer.
2011: May 13 - Says he wants to win trophies as speculation continues to link him with a move away from Villa Park.
June 23 - Signs five-year deal with Manchester United after the Old Trafford club agreed an undisclosed fee with Villa.