Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood is delighted to have sealed the loan signing of defender Tiago Ilori from Liverpool and says he has been aware of the Portugal Under-21 star for some time.

Liverpool paid £7m to sign Ilori from Sporting Lisbon in 2013, but he struggled to make an impact at Anfield and was sent on loan to Granada in Spain and Bordeaux in France.




Now Ilori has left Anfield on another loan stint, joining Aston Villa for the season, while Sherwood's men can keep him permanently should he impress.

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager is delighted to bag the 22-year-old.
 

 

He said via his club's site: "I am very pleased to bring Tiago into the football club.

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"He's someone I have been aware of for some time and I am looking forward to working with him.

"He's a young guy who I believe will enhance the group here", Sherwood added.

Ilori is a versatile defender who is able to operate right across the backline and he will be aiming to prove at Aston Villa that he is more than capable of playing regular first team football in the Premier League.