Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton for an undisclosed fee.
The club had been linked with various names throughout the window, including Jack Butland, as reported by The Daily Star, but they have eventually gone for the 33-year-old.
This makes the England international Villa’s 11th signing of the summer transfer window.
When asked about his latest recruit, Dean Smith said: “I am delighted that Tom is joining Aston Villa.
“He’s done fantastically well for Burnley over the past few years and his experience and knowledge of the Premier League will be a major asset to us this season.”
Tom Heaton has played in the Premier League 96 times, as per Transfermarkt – to put the importance of his experience into context, Villa’s 10 others signings have a combined 60 matches in England’s top flight.
He has conceded 132 goals and kept 25 clean sheets in the Premier League, which has been enough to see the former Burnley man called up to the England squad on more than one occasions, amassing three caps.
In comparison, Jed Steer, who ended last season in the Villa goal, has played 57 Championship games and 56 in League One – even featuring in the third tier for the first half of last season.
The biggest worry for Smith, though, will be the fact that the 26-year-old has just the sole Premier League appearance to his name.
Heaton’s goalkeeping ability will, of course, be important for Villa next season, but his Premier League experience will also be vital.
With Steer having virtually none of that, the club simply had to sign a new goalkeeper going into their first campaign back in the top-flight and have done so with a brilliant acquisition.
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