Aston Villa beat Championship rivals to Bolasie signature

Aston Villa have announced the arrival of Everton winger Yannick Bolasie on a season-long loan deal.

Bolasie held talks with Championship duo Middlesbrough and Villa before opting against a reunion with Tony Pulis and joining the latter.

Middlesbrough had hoped to sign Bolasie from Everton after losing star man Adama Traore to Wolves earlier in the summer but have missed out on the 29-year-old.

Everton spent £25m to sign Bolasie from Crystal Palace two years ago but the tricky winger has failed to rediscover his best form since suffering a serious knee injury in January 2017.

Bolasie is the second loan arrival at Villa in the last few days after Steve Bruce's side landed former Ajax sensation Anwar El Ghazi from Lille.

Villa have made an unbeaten start to the new season and are five points adrift of the league leaders with a game in hand. Bruce will hope the arrival of two top wingers will help them mount another promotion push this season.

Everton have a better win ratio in the Premier League when Bolasie has not started (43.45%) in the last two years compared to when he has featured from the off (30.4%).