Bent: move motivated by ‘footballing reasons’

DARREN BENT insists he has moved from Sunderland to Aston Villa for “footballing reasons” after completing a club record £18million (€21.5m) move to the midlands club.

Former Sunderland and Villa striker Kevin Phillips claimed Bent’s decision to quit the Black Cats “boils down to pure money”.

But Bent is adamant the ambitions, tradition and size of Villa had been the main factors in him signing a four-and-a-half-year contract.