Former Manchester City defender Richard Dunne is delighted with his move to Aston Villa.

Manager Martin O'Neill has been desperate to bolster his back four after skipper Martin Laursen retired and Zat Knight was sold to Bolton.

He said: "Richard Dunne is the kind of person we are looking for."

Dunne's days at Eastlands appeared to be numbered after the arrival of Kolo Toure from Arsenal and then Joleon Lescott from Everton.

Villa started the current campaign with only two experienced centre-backs in Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuellar.

The need for new blood became even more pressing after Davies started to suffer more regular recurrences of his long-standing shoulder problem and he may need surgery.

Dunne would have been entitled to a testimonial next summer when he would have completed a decade of service at City.

After joining Villa, he told the club's official website: "I'm delighted. It's a great opportunity for me. Obviously Aston Villa have improved each season recently.

"Hopefully I can be part of a squad that can challenge for a Champions League spot.

"I think with Aston Villa, with the experience they would have gained from last season - they went so close for so long at the top end and the manager has bought in some new players into the squad this year - maybe it might help us go that bit further."