Aston Villa confirm Marvelous deal as £12m man becomes 12th signing

Aston Villa have completed the transfer of midfielder Marvelous Nakamba from Club Brugge, the Premier League club have confirmed.

The Zimbabwean was on international duty at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations but failed to report back to training with the Belgian club in a bid to force through a move to Villa Park.

The promoted club had made an initial bid for the 25-year-old a matter of weeks ago which was rejected but have now seemingly met Club Brugge’s demands.

The African becomes Villa’s 12th signing of the summer already, arriving just a day after fellow central midfielder Douglas Luiz.

He is the second player - following club record signing Wesley - to arrive from the Belgian club, while another newcomer in centre-back Bjorn Engels also played with the pair in Bruges.

Nakamba arrived in Belgium following a successful spell in the Eredivisie with Vitesse and gained Champions League experience last season. Only Arturo Vidal (8.8) averaged more tackles and interceptions combined per 90 minutes of those to make five or more appearances in the tournament (8.4).