Villa take Togo midfielder

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has made his third signing during the last 48 hours with the capture of Togo midfielder Moustapha Salifou for an undisclosed fee.

Salifou, 24, has joined the midlands club from Swiss outfit FC Wil on a one-year contract.

Salifou played in all three of his country’s group matches in the 2006 World Cup in Germany against South Korea, Switzerland and France alongside Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebeyor.

He follows defenders Zat Knight and Curtis Davies into Villa Park to take O’Neill’s summer signings to six in total.

O’Neill said of Salifou: “He has great determination to succeed at this level and may well prove to be an excellent asset.”

Villa owner Randy Lerner has now spent more than £40m on new players since taking control of the club 12 months ago.