Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell - manager Martin O'Neill's first capture of what is expected to be a hectic second half of the summer.

The club have settled on what is believed to be a fee of around £5million for the former Reading player, subject to him passing a medical.

If that goes to plan, Sidwell will then fly out to link up with Villa's pre-season tour of Switzerland.

Sidwell has been one of O'Neill's main transfer targets since the season ended.

A club statement said: "Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea's former England Under-21 midfielder Steve Sidwell, subject to a medical."