Aston Villa are set to sign Feyenoord midfielder Karim El Ahmadi, according to The Sun.

The Moroccan International will join the squad at Villa Park for a reported £2.5 million and will be Paul Lambert’s first signing at his new club.

El Ahmadi stated, “Everything is top class at Villa. They are a dream for any player and I hope my move goes through”.

The 27-year old, who has earned 10 caps for his country continued, “I was close to signing a new deal with Feyenoord when Villa came along. I’m at the age when I want a new challenge, the Premier League is the best in the world, and I didn’t need to think long about it”.

El Ahmadi was born and raised in the Netherlands but is of Moroccan descent. He began his professional career with his local club Twente Enschede. In 2008, he signed for Feyenoord for a reported £4 million. A regular in Rotterdam for 3 years, El Ahmadi had a loan spell in the Middle East in 2011 with Al-Ahli.

A defensive midfielder, Lambert praised his prospective new signing stating,

“Karim is a player who I feel could definitely improve our squad”

“He can pass the ball well and he could be an important player for us in central midfield. We hope to reach a positive conclusion with Feyenoord and the player.”

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