Swansea complete cash-plus-player deal with Villa

Matt Stead

Swansea have completed a cash-plus-player deal for Aston Villa striker Jordan Ayew, with Wales defender Neil Taylor going in the opposite direction.

Ayew, on Ghana duty for the African Nations Cup in Gabon, has signed a contract until 2020.

Villa are reported to have also banked £5million in the deal as Ayew ends an 18-month stay at the club having scored 10 goals in 58 games.

His brother Andre played for Swansea before making a move to West Ham last year.

“I’m sure his brother has given him the inside track on the club,” Swans head coach Paul Clement told the club’s official site.

“He is a very good acquisition. He’s versatile and dynamic to attack the lines and get in behind defences.

“He will certainly give us something different to what we’ve got.”

Taylor’s exit ends a six-and-a-half year spell with the Swans.

The left-back moved to the Liberty Stadium from non-league Wrexham in 2010, with his first season ending with promotion to the Premier League.

The 27-year-old leaves the Swans having played 179 games with his last appearance coming in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Taylor also has 38 caps for Wales – and scored in their run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals – while he also represented Great Britain at the London Olympics in 2012.

He has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with Villa.

“I loved my time at Swansea but I’m looking forward to this new challenge in my career,” Taylor said on www.avfc.co.uk.

“You only have to look at the facilities, the stadium and the fan base to know that this is a huge club that deserves to be in the Premier League.”