Villa's Hadji moving to Spain

Aston Villa midfielder Mustapha Hadji has signed a loan deal until the end of the season with struggling Spanish club Espanyol with an option to buy.

Hadji will meet the press tomorrow, his new club has announced, and he will be an important recruit to the Barcelona outfit in their fight against relegation.

The much-travelled Moroccan international, a former African Player of the Year, has played with Nancy in France, Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and English clubs Coventry and Villa.

He has had a previous stint in Spain, having played for Deportivo La Coruna between 1997 and 1999.