Bosnian starlet Miralem Pjanic has revealed that he turned down Aston Villa in order to agree a transfer to French giants Lyon.

The 18 year-old is expected to move to Stade Gerland on a five-year deal in the coming days despite attracting interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.

Pjanic scored four goals in 34 games in his debut Ligue 1 season for relegated Metz and had been linked with a move to Arsenal earlier in the year.

However it is Martin O'Neill's Villa that the player claims he rejected in order to continue his career in France.

"I had requests from abroad, including Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Aston Villa and Fiorentina, but I wanted to stay in France," Pjanic told Le Figaro.

"That is why logically I looked to OL. There is enough work, I made the best choice."