Aston Villa ease last-minute 'concern' as final Deadline Day transfer sealed

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Australia international goalkeeper Joe Gauci from Adelaide United for a fee in the region of £1.3 million, subject to the player obtaining a visa.

The 23-year-old, who joins just over an hour before the deadline, easing concerns the move was going to fall through, has broken the Australian transfer record for the third time in the space of eight months. His switch eclipses the deals that saw Jordan Bos move to KVC Westerlo and Marco Tilio to Celtic.

Gauci, who moved to Adelaide in October 2020 after spells at Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City, has racked up 65 appearances in the A-League over the last four seasons. In that period, the 6ft 4in shot-stopper has conceded 94 goals and kept 13 clean sheets.

He is expected to become Villa's third-choice goalkeeper, behind Emiliano Martinez and Robin Olsen. Viljami Sinisalo (on loan at Exeter City), Filip Marschall (on loan at MK Dons), James Wright and Sam Proctor are among the other 'keepers currently on Villa's books.