Departing Olympique Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara is excited joining Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old's arrival from Olympique Marseille was confirmed on Monday morning, ending an affiliation with his hometown team that began when he joined their academy aged five.

Kamara says head coach Steven Gerrard was a major factor in bringing him to Villa Park.

“I am very pleased to be an Aston Villa player," he said.

“I thought a lot about it, and I think this is the correct decision for my career. I am excited to begin."

Kamara added: “The coach was very important to me. He came to see me in Marseille in my home and we discussed a lot of things and spoke about the move.

“There was a really great feeling. He played a huge part in my decision to sign here.

“I hope I can return all the confidence he put in me."

Kamara follows the footsteps of Morgan Sanson, who made the same switch in January 2021, and the club's new signing says he spoke to Villa's French contingent ahead of the move.

He said: “I communicated with Morgan and Lucas (Digne) and I asked about how things are here, how is the city, the training, the coach.

“They said the same things that it is great, so that also helped in my decision."

“I think that the Premier League is the best league in the world, I look forward to experiencing this league," he added.

The midfielder will now head off to link up with the French national team for the first time in their upcoming Nations League games.

And upon his return for pre-season, Kamara says he will give his all for the cause in a claret and blue shirt.

“I hope we will have a season full of passion. There is really a great project taking shape here and I am very glad to be part of it," he said.

“My style, I would say that I am the soldier. This means that no matter how the coach wants to use me, in the middle or in the defence, I give one hundred per cent and do everything for the team."