Villa have confirmed the signing of Lovre Kalinic.
Dean Smith has told Aston Villa’s official website that he is delighted to bring in a player of Lovre Kalinic’s quality, after the club confirmed that they had landed the Croatian goalkeeper from Gent.
Kalinic, 28, who was part of Croatia’s World Cup squad that reached the final of the competition in Russia in the summer, has put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the Midlands outfit.
Villa have moved to land the goalkeeper after summer signing Orjan Nyland has struggled between the sticks this season, while loanee Andre Moreira has only been used in the Carabao Cup.
Smith was quoted by the club’s website after confirmation of Kalinic’s move that he was delighted to make the former Hajduk Split stopper his first signing for Villa – who will join officially on January 1.
“We are delighted to be signing someone of Lovre’s experience and quality,” Smith said. “He is an outstanding goalkeeper and we are looking forward to welcoming him when he joins at the beginning of January.”
Kalinic boast impressive stats from the past two and a half seasons with Gent, conceding just 88 goals in 79 games for the Belgian top-tier side – as well as keeping a clean sheet at a ratio of one in less than three games, with 29 shut outs.
The Telegraph claimed on Thursday that Villa have shelled out £7million to capture Kalinic’s signature, who has attracted interest from Premier League sides in the past.
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