The transfer of Nottingham Forest captain Henri Lansbury to Aston Villa was one that was both drawn out, yet expected – the Villan’s announcing it at midday yesterday.
Upon his signing, that was announced via the club website and Twitter account (below), 26-year-old Lansbury signed on a Villa Park on a four-and-a-half year deal and becomes manager Steve Bruce’s second signing of the transfer window.
Lansbury’s form in a somewhat under-performing Nottingham Forest side are what have obviously caught the eyes of Aston Villa. For Forest, beset with off-field ownership issues, their former club captain scored six goals and provided three assists – these no doubt going some way towards convincing Villa to dig deep for his signature.
Breaking transfer news: We are delighted to announce the signing of @LansburyHenri. #AVFC #WelcomeHenri pic.twitter.com/5WRoeBesQG
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 20, 2017
Once the ink had dried, Villa’s new recruit said on the website of joining: “I am delighted to be here at Aston Villa. As soon as I knew Aston Villa were interested, I wanted to come here. It’s the size and reputation of the football club that attracted me.”
Lansbury also posted to his personal Twitter account (below), holding aloft a Villa shirt and saying that the signing represents a “new chapter” in his football career and that he is chomping at the bit “to get started at Aston Villa.”
https://twitter.com/lansburyhenri/status/822522048471859200
With Villa bringing in the much-regarded Lansbury, for a reputed fee nearing £3 million, fans have taken to Twitter to give their verdict on the transfer.
Lansbury to Villa Park – fan reactions
Villa fans are understandably more than chuffed at being able to bring a player like the former Nottingham Forest captain to the club as they look to put together a concerted push towards the promotion play-off places.
https://twitter.com/steveatkins1969/status/822767857213861888
Lansbury is a great signing for villa.
— Michael Lee Charles (@charlesy10) January 21, 2017
Henri, Henri Henri Henri Henri Henri Henri Lansbury!
@lansburyhenri #avfc— Dave B (@TheVillaYamYam) January 21, 2017
Even neutral fans see the value that signing Lansbury will have for Aston Villa as they look to push on.
https://twitter.com/joe_huttoncfc/status/822754402842841088
However, there are some fans who cannot resist the need to have a little jab at Villa.
https://twitter.com/lloydythomas/status/822777100981694464
This includes Villa fan Andy who isn’t exactly sold on the idea of the midfielder’s arrival at Villa Park.
Is it just me that can't stand Lansbury? #avfc
— Andy Brennan (@absilver0505) January 21, 2017
However, this Villa fan is taking a more positive view of Lansbury’s arrival at Villa Park.
https://twitter.com/Get_Okored/status/822764156592001024
And there’s more tongue-in-cheek about this than anything in seriousness.
Scenes when Lansbury gets a red card on his debut due to Mccormack annoying him by fucking up all the chance he's creating 😂 #AVFC
— Claire (@FloppyChicken92) January 21, 2017
What do you think? Is Lansbury the right man at the right time for Aston Villa?
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