Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood is delighted with their swoop for Manchester City defender Micah Richards.

Richards will formally join Villa on a Bosman at the end of the month.

Sherwood said: "I'm really pleased to get Micah on board and I'm sure he will prove to be an excellent signing for the football club.

"Micah is a winner. He helped Manchester City win their first Premier League title in 44 years, has won the FA Cup and has played in the Champions League.

"So we are signing a player who is used to winning football matches. I want players with that winning mentality here.

"And we are also signing a player at his peak.

"At 26, we are getting him when he should be producing the best football of his career."

Sherwood also hailed the versatility of Richards - and spelled out his belief that the defender can get back into the Three Lions shirt if he can perform in B6.

He added: "Micah has played international football for England in the past and if he performs as well as I know he can for Aston Villa then there is no reason why he can't get back to that level again.

"Tom Cleverley's form at the end of the season for us got him back in the England squad so Micah knows he will get a platform here to push for that."