Barry Bannan and Stephen Ireland leave Villa
Midfield duo Barry Bannan and Stephen Ireland have both departed Aston Villa hours before the transfer deadline.
Published
Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of Scotland international Barry Bannan on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
And Ireland has joined Stoke on a season-long loan which effectively ends his stay at Villa with his contract due to expire next summer.
Bannan, aged 23, has teamed up again with Ian Holloway after playing in the Palace managers Blackpool side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2010.
Bannan aid: I went back home to Scotland over the weekend ahead of meeting up with the international squad so I've had to travel back down but it's a great bit of news for me.
I was at Blackpool with the gaffer here when they got promotion that year and that was probably the highlight of my career so far.
It is a big move for me to leave Villa and I would like to thank the fans there but it's a new chapter in my life now and I can't wait to get started.
I want to get myself in the door and start training and hopefully get myself in the team. I haven't played this season and didn't much last year so I can't wait to get going.
On Irelands arrival, Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes said: Stephen is a player that Mark (Hughes) knows really well and when the opportunity arose he was keen to add him to his midfield and attacking options.
Arguably the most successful period of Stephens career to date was when he played for Mark at Manchester City and we hope that he can rediscover that form.
