Calum Chambers has joined Aston Villa in a shock move from Arsenal on a permanent deal that will see him tied to Villa Park for three-and-a-half years.
The 27-year-old was widely expected to leave the club at the end of the current campaign but things have accelerated extremely quickly.
The former Gunner has already spoken for the first time since being unveiled as a Villa player on Thursday evening.
"It’s a massive club and they’re in a great moment at this moment in time," the centre-back explained to the club website.
"It’s a very exciting place to be and everyone can see that from the outside. Things are happening here and it’s definitely moving in the right direction.
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"For me, it was a no-brainer to join a great club. It was the right thing for me to do.
"It’s a great club, it’s a massive club. I’ve played at Villa Park a few times and it’s great stadium with a great set of fans.
"The manager did very well at Rangers. He’s a young, exciting manager and I can’t wait to work with him."
The defender went on to highlight how Villa are building something under Gerrard.
"It’s a great stage to be joining the club at. The club’s building momentum and it’s an exciting time to be here.
"You can really feel that being in and around the building. You can feel the energy around the place.
"I feel like I’ve joined at a great time and I can’t wait to get started and give it my all.”
Over the course of a lengthy Arsenal career, Chambers donned the famous red and white shirt 122 times including in the Champions League.
The ex-Southampton prospect joined the Gunners as a teenager and leaves with an impressive honours list that includes the 2014 Community Shield and the 2015 FA Cup.
Chambers also enjoyed two loan spells away from the Emirates while on the books at Arsenal, spending the 2016/17 season with Middlesbrough before earning Fulham's Player of the Year award in 2018/19.
Arsenal have expressed their well-wishes to the player in a short statement that concluded: "We wish Calum all the best for the next chapter in his career and thank him for his contribution to Arsenal over the past eight seasons."
The England international was deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates having made just five appearances this term.
Chambers joins the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne as Villa's third signing of the January transfer window, the third under Gerrard.
