Brad Guzan in action for Chivas USA. Photograph: Juan Miranda/MLS via Getty Images

Aston Villa have agreed a fee with American side Chivas USA for goalkeeper Brad Guzan. The 23-year-old international, who appeared as a second-half substitute against England in a friendly at Wembley in May, had been linked with a number of clubs in Europe but has opted to join the Midlands side.

Villa have been searching for a goalkeeper since Scott Carson returned to Liverpool after a season-long loan, and Guzan will compete for the No1 shirt with Stuart Taylor, who is manager Martin O’Neill’s only senior keeper after Thomas Sorensen left the club on a free transfer.

O’Neill agreed a fee of around £2m for Guzan in the January transfer window but the player failed to obtain a work permit. Guzan’s subsequent international appearances - he has been involved in five of the last eight internationals - mean Villa hope to gain Home Office approval this time around.

“I would love to sign for Villa - when I was there in January for a few days it was an absolutely brilliant time,” Guzan said. “Great people, great facilities and I couldn’t say one bad thing about it. It looks like exciting times at Villa and I would love to play for Martin O’Neill. It is about the whole way he carries himself as a manager. To have a guy like Martin O’Neill saying good things about you, it makes you feel good as a player.”

Guzan will become Villa’s second summer signing after former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell moved to Villa Park for around £5m earlier this week.

About this articleCloseThis article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Saturday July 12 2008. It was last updated at 12:53 on July 12 2008.

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