Alex McLeish gets his man: Charles N'Zogbia joins Villa

The club confirmed on their website yesterday that the 25-year-old France international had passed a medical and would be available for Wednesday's pre-season fixture against Derby at Pride Park and for the 6 August date with Braga in Portugal.

"I am really happy and extremely excited to sign for Aston Villa," N'Zogbia said. "It is a great club and it is a really big step for me in my career, so I am sure I will enjoy my football here.

"I think it is going to be a really good season and hopefully I'll do well here. I can't wait to meet my new team-mates, play with them and work together to do something special this season.

"Alex McLeish is a strong manager and I think he is going to build a really good team for this season."

Neither club disclosed the fee, which is believed to be around 9.5million. The move sees N'Zogbia reunited with former Newcastle team-mate Shay Given, who joined from Manchester City earlier this month, and it also means Villa manager Alex McLeish has finally succeeded in signing N'Zogbia after two failed attempts.

The Scot looked to have landed the services of the player 12 months ago when in charge at Birmingham, only for the deal to collapse at the 11th hour over personal terms. Then McLeish's bid to sign the former Newcastle man earlier this summer was halted when Wigan rejected an initial 9m bid from Villa.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was sorry to lose a player of N'Zogbia's quality, saying: "We're all disappointed to lose a player like Charles N'Zogbia, who has been fantastic for Wigan Athletic over the last two years and who we feel has grown as a player in that time too.

"There have been some very enjoyable moments during his time at the club, he made his international debut with France and scored his first goal for his country whilst a Wigan Athletic player - memories I'm sure he'll always treasure as we will."

Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle was also busy yesterday, completing the signings of Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears from Burnley.

Midfielder Eagles, 25, and defender Mears, 28, have both agreed three-year contracts. "Both Chris and Tyrone are top players and have shown that they have the ability to compete successfully at the highest level," said Coyle, who knows the players from his time as manager of the Clarets."I have worked with them both before and know what they will bring to the club in terms of character and commitment and, along with Nigel Reo-Coker, we have added real quality to the squad."

West Brom have signed Birmingham City goalkeeper Ben Foster on loan for the season, with Boaz Myhill going in the opposite direction.

Foster's arrival follows the sale of Scott Carson to Turkish club Bursaspor, with Birmingham taking Myhill to provide competition for Colin Doyle following the departures from St Andrew's of Foster and Maik Taylor.

Foster, who earlier this year ruled himself out of England duty, will not return to Birmingham during the season as the deal prevents both clubs from recalling their keepers during the loan.

West Brom head coach Roy Hodgson said: "We are very, very happy that the deal to bring Ben from Birmingham has gone through. He was always the goalkeeper that we targeted as our number one choice for the season."

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough striker Leroy Lita edged closer to a move to Swansea after agreeing personal terms with the Barclays Premier League newcomers. A fee of 1.75m for the former Reading man was agreed earlier in the week and, despite reported interest from Leicester, Lita has successfully negotiated personal terms with the Liberty Stadium club.

The 26-year-old will undergo a medical in south Wales next week before signing a three-year deal.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said: "Myself and (manager] Brendan (Rodgers] are delighted to come to an agreement with Leroy. As I have said previously, Leroy was one of the manager's main targets when he arrived in Swansea a year ago."

Fellow newcomers QPR announced Blackpool had accepted a bid for striker DJ Campbell.

The London club have been linked with a move for the 29-year-old this summer, reportedly offering 1.25m. Yesterday a QPR statement said: "The club have had a bid for Blackpool striker DJ Campbell accepted by the Seasiders. The Tangerines frontman, who scored 13 goals in 31 appearances in the Barclays Premier League last season, will now discuss personal terms with the Rs over the coming days, ahead of a potential move to Loftus Road."