Aston Villa have beaten Sunderland to the signing of Micah Richards on a free transfer, according to Mirror Sport.
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Richards will become a free agent at the start of next month following the news on Wednesday afternoon [via the Premier League’s official website] that Manchester City would not be offering him a contract extension.
The one-time England first choice-right back is understood to have rejected a £90k-a-week deal at the Stadium of Light in order to sign for Villa for a considerable lower wage offer.
This signing could be considered as a coup for Tim Sherwood, who reportedly intervened and persuaded Richards to join the revolution at Villa Park.
The former Tottenham head coach has promised to provide the defender a platform to win his place back in the Three Lions set-up and that is what likely convinced Richards to snub offers from the Black Cats as well as West Ham United.
Richards will be hoping next season is better than his last following a disappointing loan spell with Serie A outfit Fiorentina where he made just 10 league appearances for Viola.