Aston Villa sign striker Daniel Ings from Southampton

Aston Villa have signed striker Danny Ings from Southampton for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year-old former England international has agreed a three-year contract at Villa Park and he arrives on the same day Villa announced the signing of forward Leon Bailey on a deal running until 2025.

Villa boss Dean Smith said of Ings on the club’s website: “Danny is an outstanding Premier League footballer who has scored goals wherever he has played.

“He is also a top professional with a great character who will be a leader in our squad and a role model for our rapidly developing young academy players who are now in and around the first team.

“I am delighted to welcome Danny to our great club.”

The departure of their top scorer will be a major blow to Southampton ahead of the new season and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl admits they need to invest to replace him.

Speaking after their pre-season win over Levante, Hasenhuttl told the club website: “I think it’s a deal where we only have winners on every side. We can replace him and we must replace him to get a player who scores goals for us.

“I know that we have a few others in our team who must step up now, but it is clear that we have this money, and we need this money for maybe bringing two more players into this squad that we need.”

Ings, who scored 13 goals for Saints last season, joins fellow summer recruits Bailey, Emi Buendia and Ashley Young at Villa Park.

However, Villa are braced to lose captain Jack Grealish to Manchester City in a British record £100million, according to reports.