Aston Villa have completed the signing of West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker. The two clubs agreed a fee — believed to be around £8.5million yesterday — and the England Under-21 passed a medical and agreed personal terms this evening.

Reo-Coker becomes become Villa's second most expensive signing as only Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel cost more (£9.5million) when he moved from River Plate to Villa Park in January 2001 during John Gregory's reign as manager.

The deal which took Ashley Young from Watford to Villa Park during the transfer window six months ago could eventually rise from £8million to £9.65million but that will depend on add-ons relating to appearances and international call-ups.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez, meanwhile,  is to be reunited with the man he made Northern Ireland's youngest modern-day captain after signing midfielder Steven Davis from Aston Villa for £4million on a four-year deal.

Davis, Villa's 2006 player of the year, agreed terms with the Cottagers after passing a medical and finalising personal terms this morning.

The Northern Ireland international was a first-team regular at Villa under David O'Leary but when Martin O'Neill took over, bringing in Stiliyan Petrov from former club Celtic, he lost his place and played only a peripheral part last season.

Davis, 22, is Sanchez's second summer signing following the £1million arrival of compatriot Aaron Hughes.

Both players played for Sanchez when he was Northern Ireland coach, a post he left to take up a full-time post at Craven Cottage following a successful temporary stint at the end of last season.

While in charge of the national side, Sanchez awarded Davis the honour of becoming his country's youngest captain of the modern era when he handed him the armband for the Uruguay match in May 2006.

Sanchez is now confident he will bring the same leadership qualities to his new club.