Aston Villa have completed the £12million signing of Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing, with the England international putting put pen-to-paper on a four-year contract at Villa Park.

The 24-year-old spent Thursday afternoon at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground discussing personal terms and undergoing a medical and having crossed the 't's' and dotted the 'i's' on a the long-term deal he becomes Villa boss Martin O'Neill's first signing of the summer.

Downing is currently sidelined with a broken foot sustained against Villa during the penultimate game of last season and although he is not expected to return to first-team action until October at the earliest O'Neill has decided to go ahead with the deal.

The Middlesbrough-born ace was always expected to leave his hometown club this summer following their relegation to the Championship last season and although Tottenham were also said to be interested, it is Villa who have won the race to snap up the wide-man.