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Aston Villa have signed Atletico Madrid keeper Andre Moreira on loan.

The 22-year-old has arrived at Villa Park from the La Liga giants and will stay for the season in what is the first tangible proof that the cash problems have disappeared.

Moreira was at Bodymoor Heath on Thursday undergoing a medical and will rival Jed Steer for the number one jersey.

The move has been sanctioned by new club owners Nassef Sawaris and Wes Edens — meaning manager Steve Bruce has been granted his first wish.

Bruce received the backing of the pair ahead of Wednesday's pre-season friendly against West Ham, and immediately a new keeper has been added to the ranks.

(Image: SIPA USA/PA) (Image: PA)

Help was needed in that area after last season's loanee, Sam Johnstone of Manchester United, plumped for a £5million move to Championship neighbours West Brom as the money dried up at Villa.

Portuguese Moreira has been a serial loanee — he has only just returned to the Spanish heavyweights after a brief stay at Belenenses, his fifth such spell back in his homeland since 2014.

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(Image: PA)

He made a clutch of appearances in Portugal but will be hoping that this gives his career a springboard having never made a senior appearance for Atletico since joining four years ago — although Steer is liked at Villa, with only his poor injury record counting against him.

It is the first sign that the club's new owners mean business.

Sawaris and Edens boast considerable wealth — a calculation of their combined assets makes them the third richest owners in English football.

Between them, they are worth an estimated £40billion, with the family of Egyptian Sawaris alone responsible for the majority of that.