Aston Villa made their first signing of the season by bringing in Feyenoord midfielder Karim El-Ahmadi on a three-year deal for an undisclosed transfer fee.
The defensive midfielder had an impressive campaign for Feyenoord last year, helping them to the runners-up position behind champions Ajax Amsterdam in the Dutch League.
El-Ahmadi said he was excited and looking forward to working under new manager Paul Lambert. "I'm very excited about coming here to a massive club and I'm looking forward to playing here," the Moroccan international told the club's official website.
"I'm very happy that the manager wants me and that the club wants me and I'm looking forward to starting training again.
"It's nice that I am the manager's first transfer and I am looking forward to doing good things with the team and with the club this year.
"This club should be competing in the top half of the table and I am looking forward to achieving that with the team.
"It was always a dream of mine to play in the Premier League.
"We played a lot of Sundays in Holland so I was able to watch all of the games on Saturday and I think this is the best league in the world.
"It will be a challenge to show people what I can do. As a player, I always want to have the ball and that is my main quality. I always want the ball and to dictate the game.
"That's what I did at Feyenoord and hopefully I can show the fans, the club and the manager my quality.
Lambert added: "Karim will help the team; I have no doubt about that.
"He's a really good footballer and he's played well in a good team, a big team, and I'm looking forward to working with him.
"In fact, I'm really looking forward to getting things going on Thursday when the lads will report back for pre-season."
Meanwhile, relegated club Blackburn Rovers completed the signing of Leon Best from Newcastle United for around £3 million ($4.7 million) with the striker signing a four-year deal after completing a medical on Monday.
"Blackburn Rovers have this evening completed the signing of Leon Best from Newcastle United," a statement on the club's website said.
"The 25-year-old striker makes the move from the North East to the North West for a fee of more than £3m, signing a four-year deal."
