Ross McCormack joins Aston Villa in Championship record £14milllion move from Fulham
ROSS McCORMACK has penned a four-year deal to complete his Championship record £14million move to Aston Villa.
Villa will pay Fulham an initial £12m up front with another £2m in add-ons due if Villa seal promotion back to the Premier League.
McCormack had been expected to sign for fellow promotion hopefuls Norwich but the Claret and Blues have pipped them to the 29-year-old Scot's signature as they face up to their first season in England's second tier since 1987.
Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo said: "I'm delighted to bring Ross on board. He's a player with proven track record and plenty of experience in the division.
"He is a player whose goalscoring record has been excellent everywhere he has been and we feel he can be an important addition."
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McCormack joined Fulham for £11m in 2014 and fired in 23 goals for the Cottagers last season - netting a total of 42 times in his two-year spell at Craven Cottage.
The Canaries made enquiries about McCormack but failed to meet Fulham's valuation, allowing Villa to complete a deal that becomes the second most expensive in their history behind Darren Bent club record£24m move in 2011.
McCormack becomes Di Matteo's fourth summer signing, with new Villa owner Dr Tony Xia has already sanction Di Matteo's moves for ex-Bournemouth skipper Tommy Elphick and Reading box-to-box starlet Aaron Tshibola.
Promising ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has also joined from Verona, with Xia believing that he can go on to emulate Italy great Gianluigi Buffon.
Di Matteo has allowed keeper Brad Guzan and midfielder Idrissa Gueye moves to Middlesbrough and Everton, while Charles N'Zogbia was released.
Newcastle yesterday completed the signing of Villa centre-back Ciaran Clark after triggering his £5m release clause.
