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Micah Richards has agreed to join Aston Villa after turning down a lucrative deal from Sunderland.

Sunderland had offered the right back around £90,000-a-week, but he chose Villa - and a deal understood to be around £65,000-a-week - after a personal intervention from Tim Sherwood.

The sought-after 26-year-old, had also been pursued by West Ham following his release from Manchester City. But he is expected to sign for Villa next week when he returns from holiday.

Sherwood is understood to have convinced Richards that he would play a key role in his new-look side and that he would be helped in his bid to break back into the England picture.

Richards has been at Italian club Fiorentina on loan but has made just 20 appearances for the Serie A club.

He has been keen to come back to the Premier League for some time, despite interest from Inter Milan, managed by his former City boss Roberto Mancini.

In pictures: Done deals - Summer 2015