Aston Villa completed the striker signing with nine minutes to spare

Aston Villa have bolstered their forward line with the addition of Swansea City striker Borja Baston on a free transfer.

 

The Spaniard was the Welsh side’s club record signing when he arrived for £15.5 million from Atletico Madrid in 2016 but struggled to make an impact with the Swans.

Two loan spells back to his native Spain materialized, but the striker was given his opportunity to shine this season when he notched six Championship goals from 20 appearances.

Dean Smith’s Villa had been in desperate need of reinforcements at the top end of the pitch after star striker Wesley Moraes suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of the month.

The cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in a collision with Burnley’s Ben Mee ruled the Brazilian out for nine months, leaving the Villains light up top.

Genk’s Mbwana Samatta arrived last week to ease the goalscoring burden, and his arrival has now been followed by Baston.

The Former Atletico Madrid man signed on a free transfer after Swansea agreed to rip up the remainder of his contract in order to facilitate the move.