Villa new boy Richard Dunne has fired a parting shot at Manchester City after admitting he was hurt by their handling of his move from Eastlands.

The club finally received the green light from the Premier League for the £6million transfer of Dunne to go through yesterday afternoon – almost a day after Tuesday’s 5pm transfer deadline – with the centre-back signing a four-year contract.

Dunne’s days at Eastlands appeared to be numbered after the arrival of Kolo Toure from Arsenal and Joleon Lescott from Everton.

But, despite a fee being agreed for the player on Friday, the move was threatened by a pay dispute between the 29-year-old and City over the three years still remaining on his Eastlands deal.

To complicate matters further, the Republic of Ireland defender would have been due a testimonial next summer after nine years’ service.

But Dunne is now glad to have joined a “stable” club but conceded his exit had left a bitter taste.

He said: “It was difficult. They made it quite clear they didn’t want me there any more, so for me to have the opportunity to come to Villa was brilliant.

“I could have maybe sat and played in the reserves for the next three years, but for the manager here to show the faith he has was pretty pleasing.

“I’m not hurt to leave, I’m just hurt the way in which it was dealt with. It wasn’t the best way they went about things, but that’s a different story.

“For me I’m just pleased to be here and looking forward to many years playing at a club that’s stable.”

His signing takes Villa’s spending over £40m for the window, making manager Martin O’Neill the third biggest spender of the summer.

The Irishman follows the arrivals of Stewart Downing for up to £12million, Stephen Warnock at £8million, Fabian Delph for up to £8milion, £2.5million defender Habib Beye and £5million James Collins, who signed from West Ham hours before the deadline.

Dunne admitted he was relieved to finally receive the all-clear from the Premier League – and is now looking forward to a fresh challenge.

He said: “I am delighted. It was obviously a long day and the transfer window is frantic.

“I think that’s the same case for everyone, it always makes people nervous. So just to get through at the last moment was quite a relief.

“It’s brilliant to be here. I was at Manchester City for nine years and it was probably time to go our separate ways. I feel now it’s a fresh start.”

Dunne and Collins will compete with Carlos Cuellar and Ciaran Clark for the central defensive berths – with shoulder victim Curtis Davies looking all but certain to spend a sustained spell on the sidelines.