Aston Villa have completed the signing of Emile Heskey from Wigan Athletic for £3.5million.
The England international has put pen-to-paper on a three-and-a-half year deal at Villa Park after successfully negotiating personal terms and passing a medical.
Heskey wasted little time in committing to a Midlands move having previously worked under Villa boss Martin O'Neill during a successful spell together at Leicester earlier in his career.
Wigan had been keen to keep the powerful front-man at The JJB but given he was out of contract at the end of the season, they have decided to cash in now rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.
O'Neill said: "I am absolutely delighted. Emile has been a brilliant player for a number of years and this is great news. It gives us all a big boost - the football club, myself and the players.
"He has arrived at a really important time. We have got a bit of momentum going. We haven't the largest squad in the world.
"John Carew is coming back from his back injury but is still a week or two away from being ready to return and Emile couldn't be arriving at a more opportune moment.
"I think he could play with Gabby (Agbonlahor) and John (Carew) and I think he will give us an enormous lift. I have got no doubts that he will improve us and will help to improve Gabby and other players around him.
"When people like Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen say Emile is good to play with, that is good enough.
"I am delighted he has come now because he would have had a lot of interest in the summer when his contract was ended.
"I think he should be not only happy in the environment here, I think he should thrive in it."
O'Neill added: "I know Emile from my days at Leicester, and he was fantastic for us. He had plenty of natural talent, even though he was only a young kid.
"He played out wide for a season and did the sort of work that Ashley Young and James Milner now do for us at Villa.
"We were sad to see him leave. But he wanted to go to Liverpool and play with Michael Owen - and he has done exceptionally well in his career.
"I will be delighted to renew acquaintances with him. He is still relatively young at 31, and in good shape."
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