Aston Villa have announced they have made their fifth signing of the January transfer window after completing a deal to sign Barnsley captain Conor Hourihane.
The 25-year-old had entered the final six months of his existing deal with the Tykes and becomes the second Barnsley player to join Villa in as many days following the arrival of James Bree from Oakwell.
Hourihane, who spent three years with Barnsley, has been one of the best players in the Championship this season and will certainly add creativity to Villa’s midfield that they have so badly lacked this season.
“I’m really pleased to be here,” the Irish midfielder, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Villa, told the club’s official website. “Aston Villa are a massive club and I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my career and developing further as a player under Steve Bruce.
“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone connected to Barnsley Football Club; from the owner, to the head coach, the backroom staff, and of course to the supporters who have been amazing to me throughout my time at Oakwell.”
Villa are currently nine points adrift of the play off positions and, with six teams between them and Sheffield Wednesday in sixth, they will be counting on Hourihane’s quality to help them chase those teams above them.
Hourihane is not only the second highest rated player in the Championship this season (7.72 rating), but he has registered the most assists in the league (11) – four more than any other Villa player – and no player has secured more WhoScored Man of the Match awards (7).
For more stats on Conor Hourihane, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
