Fabian Delph has performed a surprising second U-turn in a week by joining Manchester City from Aston Villa after all.

The midfielder, who signed a new Villa contract earlier this year, had been expected to join City at the weekend but decided against doing so in the last moment. The decision took City by surprise, and Delph subsequently issued a statement in which he pledged his future to Villa, where he is the captain.

Last Saturday he told Villa’s website: “I’m aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight. I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”

The 25-year-old, whose £8m release clause has been triggered by City, decided to become part of Manuel Pellegrini’s squad and underwent a medical on Friday before the move was confirmed.

The transfer will anger Villa fans who had hailed the player’s decision to stay as a sign of his loyalty. Delph will hope to challenge Fernandinho and Fernando for a starting berth in central midfield. It is thought the England international made the original U-turn because of doubts regarding whether he would be handed enough playing time by Pellegrini.

Michah Richards, the former City right-back who is at Villa, had encouraged Delph to move to the Etihad Stadium but only if he was confident of being given regular football. Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair are English players who have previously had to leave the club because of a lack of game time. This may have been a telling factor in Delph’s decision to stay at Villa Park, though Richards was moved a few days ago to deny so.

He tweeted: “If people actually think I had a influence on Delph not going to city your wrong! And I have nothing but great things to say about city!”

Delph signed the fresh terms at Villa in January, when the £8m release clause was agreed. This relatively small amount for an established England player suggests he was keen to keep his options open should a club that matched his ambitions show a serious intent to buy him. At that time he said: “I am a loyal person and committing my future will hopefully show everybody what type of guy I am.”

City have won two Premier League titles in the past three seasons and will again compete in the Champions League next year – a competition the club are aiming to claim. So their interest in Delph made the club seem the ideal move for him. This made his initial decision not to agree the transfer puzzling. But when Delph issued the statement claiming a desire to stay and captain Villa he appeared to be setting the record straight by indicating a fierce loyalty to Tim Sherwood’s team. So the second about-turn means Delph has questions to answer regarding his thought process throughout a saga that has become untidy.

City are in Australia on the first leg of the club’s pre-season tour that also takes in Vietman. It is unclear if he will fly out to join up with Pellegrini and his new team-mates.

(Guardian service)