Calum Chambers’ move to Aston Villa from Arsenal came as a surprise to many when it was announced on Thursday night.
The defender has been at the Gunners since 2014, but having fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta, he has opted to leave the Emirates Stadium in search of more game time.
It is a deal that appears to have developed quickly, with little sign that Chambers was close to departing the Gunners in the days and weeks leading up to the announcement.
The Englishman was set to be out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the season and would likely have departed in the summer anyway.
By his own admission, the deal progressed at a rapid pace, with Chambers speaking to new boss Steven Gerrard on only a few occasions.
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“I'm very excited. It's a great club with a great manager, a great squad. I know a few of the boys here so I'm extremely excited,” he told Villa’s website.
“It's all happened pretty quickly to be honest. It was a few days ago I was [made] aware of the interest and yeah, since then, its felt like it’s happened pretty quick so it's exciting times.
“I've played at Villa Park a few times, it's a great stadium and it's got a great set of fans, and obviously the manager as well.
“He [Gerrard] did very well at Rangers and he's a young, exciting manager and I can't wait to work with him. We spoke a few times, it's all really positive and I can't wait to get started with it all.”
The fast pace of Chambers’ move to Villa is reminiscent of Danny Ings’ own arrival at the Midlands club in the summer.
Ings joined Villa from Southampton in a £25million deal that also came as a shock to many onlookers.
Included among them was Ings’ own family, with the striker banned from informing them until the deal was confirmed.
“I’ve been at a lot of places in my career but this was definitely the best-kept secret,” the Englishman told Villa TV after his move.
“It has been a crazy couple of days. I wasn’t able to tell my family until it was announced. Now I am just happy to be here and get started.
“It’s hard to explain (what moments like this) are like. I am very close with my dad. Not being able to tell him during the process was probably the toughest thing ever.
“I told him on the way up on Wednesday night and he is excited. He is looking forward to seeing me hopefully grow at this club.
“My family have always followed me. This is a new part of the country I will be living in but I am looking forward to it.”
Whether Chambers was also restricted from informing his family and friends, like Ings was, is unknown, though it would explain why the deal was kept under wraps so well.
Chambers will now immediately link up with his fellow secretive signing Ings, but will have to wait another two weeks before making his debut.
