Aston Villa confirm Joe Cole signing

Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of former West Ham United midfielder Joe Cole on a free transfer.

The 32-year-old has penned a two-year deal with the club after successfully completing his medical.

Cole was released by West Ham at the end of last season following an 18-month spell at Upton Park.

"I'm very excited. It all happened really quickly. It just felt right from the [start]. It's an exciting place to go, a massive club, and there are massive opportunities for the club to push on," he told Villa's official website.

"I spoke to the gaffer and we have similar views on football. He didn't need to sell the club but he explained what the view is for the future and that was the main thing. When I spoke to the manager I knew I'd be signing.

"I'll be coming here and I'll be learning too. Obviously I'll bring my experience to the squad but you still learn every day and I want to learn. I know I'll learn from the manager, I'll learn from other players here and going forward together we want to get the best results for Aston Villa."

The former England international scored three goals in 25 appearances for the Hammers during the 2013-14 campaign.