Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Site Staff 
Date:Wednesday June 27 2007
Time: 5:06PM
UK time is: 16:40:49
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Aston Villa Defender Joins Fulham
Fulham have today confirmed that Aaron Hughes has become the first signing for the club this summer in a £1million deal.
The 27 year old defender links up with former Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez on a deal that sees the right-back commit the next 3 years to the club. Former Newcastle defender Hughes was signed by Villa in 2005, becoming regular first choice defender following Mark Delaney`s long term absence. With the loan signing of Manchester United`s Phil Bardsley coming in January, it appeared that under the Randy Lerner revolution that Aaron`s days at Villa Park were numbered.
Hughes told the official Fulham website: "I`m delighted to be joining Fulham and am looking forward to working with Lawrie Sanchez at club level. I enjoyed my time at Aston Villa but when this opportunity presented itself I had no hesitation in coming to discuss the Manager`s ambitions for the Club, which obviously were of great interest to me."
Hughes` new boss Sanchez had similar words of delight to tell the visitors to fulhamfc.com: "I am delighted that we have been able to bring Aaron to Fulham. As my Captain whilst I was Manager at Northern Ireland, I saw his obvious leadership skills and his qualities as a player which is widely recognised, so I`m delighted that he becomes my first signing of the summer."
Vital Villa wishes Aaron all the best in the future, and thanks him for his time at Aston Villa.
Murph
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Your Comments
I think he will be a great player for Fulham, Laurie Sanchez fancies him to do a job for them, personally I think they have got him on the cheap, but MON says if any player wants to leave he wont stand in his way. This Proves that statement.
col8
Great crosses, got exposed too many times at right back.With the rate players are leaving we will need to sign at least 10 players so we have strength in depth!
OneloveVilla
We got what we paid for him and he is going to get first team football so good luck to him. We are moving on to greater things and our destiny lies on a greater path encrusted with diamonds and jewels and hopefully a few trophies. Seriously though that's about 5 out 2 injured and unlikely to come back (Delaney and Sutton)and still none in. Hope you are having a nice holiday MON......
Villan444
Not too perturbed or indeed sorry to see him move on, although I most certainly wish him well for his time at Craven Cottage. Didn't think he was up to the task as a premiership right full back, and the suggestion that he could be used as a squad player was never going to wash. Hughes wouldn't have gone for that.
glensider
So now we have no recognised right-back at our club (bar crocked Delaney who won't be ready until Jan 08 & O'Hallaoran, but he has no 1st team experience so that hardly counts!)! This leads me to believe that MO'N has something in the pipeline for this berth? Some would argue that Hughsie was not a RB, as he plays centre back for N Ireland. Nevertheless, we need this position filling - Olof can play RB, but can't cross and has poor distribution - so a quaility permenant signing for the poistion must take priority... so long as it's quaility and not Paul Robinson I'll be happy! Good luck Aaron and thank you - enjoy your time at Fulham.
bazzah
I think we are all agreed that a RB will be own their way to B6 - the burning question is who. Out of these rumoured linked players, who would you like to see signings that dotted line? :- Paul McShane, Paul Robinson WBA; Phil Jagielka SU; Vitorino Antunes of Pacos de Ferreira; Luke Young CA, Frankie Simek SW, Phillipe Lahm Bayern Munchen; Bruno Alves Porto.... ?? In Martin we trust!!
bazzah
Phil Lahm would be a coup for Villa. If MON can sign him it will make quite a statement.
nycVillan
Isn't Lahm a left back?
Gazvilla
Gazvilla - I believe Lahm is naturally left footed but can play RB too. However, naturally you would want a right footed player to play RB... Villablog site suggest Bruno Alves could be in the frame (but isn't he a CB?) and something big is imminent...
bazzah
If you look at the Fulham website you will see Jimmy Bullard who is wearing next season's kit...made by Nike! Maybe our "coup" of getting a Nike kit is not as big as we thought! Hope ours appears soner, rather than later!! UTV SOTC
Rickymeister
Their Nike kit I believe is sub-contracted...we are getting the real deal!
LUFC1
I think we may see Luke Young quite soon.
Pking
I am gutted he is gone - as a Northern Irishman I rated Hughes and I thought the reason Ridge/Cahill have been linked with moves was because MON saw Hughes as a backup CB as well. Now with Davis linked with a move I think they are two players with international experience leaving to join a rival. We will regret losing Davis - and Hughes (albeit to a smaller extent). I would love Jagielka and Luke Young. We need both!
deano.avfc
Micah Richards anyone? :)
YatesyVillain
not too gutted he is gone as he can be bettered. Should will be selling at this rate with no transfers in yet? He who dares rodney, he who dares my son (I hope).
tylervilla
He was slated by loads of our fans last season. He an average premiership player and not good enough for Newcastle.
tarzan
He's an average footballer, no worse, no better. Not the type to take us where we want to be. Trouble is who is???? Micah Richards is a great shout even if he is a Bluenose.
DeanoVilla
Lahm is right footed but loves to cut in, anyway for 1m this is a joke surely, Aaron hughes is an international player and i see stupid prices like Harewood 4.5m championship players like Koumas 5m Whats with us selling for so cheap? Davo needs a sell on clause added to his contract if he leaves too
shortshadyuk
Not quite up to the standard to take us to the next level but I do believe he was better than some fans seem to think. As always though that is a matter of opinion. It is worth bearing in mind that it is a team game and even signing the best RB in the world doesn't necessarily mean the defence will improve, it is how players work together that makes the difference. The Arse of a few years ago was probably the best example of this. I will happily give him a warm welcome back for the second home game of the new season. He always gave 100%, has thanked Villa fans for their support and has said he is disappointed to leave. It started really well when on his debut he set up Super Kev for his first goal after just 4 minutes but never really progressed further from there. Good luck in the future Aaron.
voiceoftheholte
Tarzan you make a very telling statement. "He was slated by loads of our fans last season". The guy gave his best, wether that was good enough or not is a matter of opinion. However the very fact that we abuse our own players even when giving 100% is a sad statement of fact. It is one that we should be thoroughly ashamed of and it should make fans who abuse their own players look long and hard in the mirror. Those fans who abused players are probably the same ones moaning about the lack of transfer activity. Maybe now they will understand our poor, moaning reputation (which was significantly better than usual last season) often makes attracting the right players more difficult. If we become a more appreciative and vocally supportive audience we will find that more players would like to play here.
voiceoftheholte
I think it happens at all clubs though and is usually the foul mouthed element. All teams have a scapegoat to chant at. I remember back to Frank Carrodus!
tarzan
Hughes was considered Mr Ronseal when he was a regular, it's weird but he never got a run of matches under MON. VOTH - the same booing happened with Jay Lloyd too.
tarzan
MON clearly stated he would stop no player leaving if they wanted to go, Hughes stated he wanted first team football, best for player and club if he moves to pastures new.
col8
Like us to join the chase for Phil Jagielka. Good young defender/midfielder, will only improve when surrounded by better players than his current Bramall Lane team mates. Rumoured that Everton are very interested, but not keen on paying the 4 million. Would do a good job for us at right full back.
glensider
Agree with that one glensider but would still prefer Micah Richards.
voiceoftheholte
sorry to see such a versatile player go until we have the replacements in place. Ho hum.
The Fear
Sanchez is certainly splashing the cash, a luxury not afforded Chris Coleman.
glensider
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