Paul Lambert makes first signing of the summer.Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has completed his first signing of the summer with the club’s official site confirming a deal has been struck to bring Lech Poznan winger Aleksandar Tonev to Villa Park.
The 23-year-old is an impressive young player, and scored five goals in the Polish league this season. A full Bulgarian international since 2011, he has shown plenty of promise on the big stage, scoring 3 goals for his country, and should add some much-needed quality in attack for Lambert’s side next season.
He will join his fellow countryman Stiliyan Petrov at Villa, the former player who now works in a coaching capacity with the club following an early retirement due to Leukemia. He has also spoken of his desire to replicate the success of Bulgaria’s most famous player Dimitar Berbatov.
“I am really happy to be part of Aston Villa and I am really proud to be able to pull the shirt on,” Tonev said. “Aston Villa is a big club and the manager and club have a belief in young players and in the team ethic.
“I am hungry for success. I want to show everybody what I can really do. I have played in front of big crowds before but the atmosphere here in England is unique. The crowd is like a 12th player for the team and I am looking forward to playing in front of the fans.
“Stiliyan and Dimitar Berbatov have done really well in this league and I hope I can do the same. They are both great Bulgarian players and hopefully I can do the same and make my mark on the Premier League.”
This news will come as a welcome boost for Villa fans, as they face the very real prospect of losing some of their best players this summer.
Following a difficult season of fighting relegation, the likes of Christian Benteke, Andreas Weimann and Brad Guzan have been linked with moves away, after emerging as the club’s stand-out performers.
However, few had heard of Benteke when he was signed last summer, and Lambert may have shown an eye for spotting obscure talent again with the purchase of Tonev.