MILNER JOINS VILLA

Milner - joins Villa.

James Milner completed a club-record £12million move to Aston Villa - then revealed he was driven to leave Newcastle because he felt undervalued.

Milner became frustrated at Newcastle's failure to offer him a new contract which he felt would reflect his worth, and handed in a transfer request.

Villa moved swiftly to agree a fee for the England Under-21 winger who has signed a four-year contract which ties him to his new club until the end of the 2011-2012 campaign.

Milner spent the 2005-2006 season on loan to Villa from Newcastle and came close to signing for them in August 2006 before the Magpies pulled the plug.

Milner said: "I enjoyed every minute at Newcastle. It was a fantastic club. I enjoyed working with the manager and they are a great bunch of lads.

"But I knew offers had come in over the summer and the club had turned them down and the valuation of me wasn't reflected in the deal I was on.

"Speaking to them, I felt it was the right thing to put in a transfer request to show how I felt, seeing as they didn't think they were on the same wavelength as me and they then made the decision to sell me.

"It was Newcastle's decision and now I am at Aston Villa. A new contract was never discussed. That was a source of frustration."

Milner added: "I nearly signed two years ago. That was a tough time for me and Villa as well. It obviously threw their plans into turmoil. That was a tough time.

"You learn from that and you move on and, two years later, I am sure I am a stronger character and a better player for those experiences.

"The fee had been agreed. I came down here to the training ground and got into the manager's office and he said he had a phone call to say Newcastle had changed their mind.

"At first I didn't know if it was the manager's humour and whether he was joking with me but it wasn't a joke. That is in the past and it is how you react to those sort of things.

"The best way I know is to get my head down and work hard. I went back to Newcastle and did as well as I could."

Milner paid tribute to Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan who wanted to keep hold of the services of the former Leeds player.

He said: "He has been fantastic with me all the way through. I had a great relationship with him, learnt a lot and wish him every luck.

"We talked a few times and last night, once the fee had been agreed, he wished me every luck in the world and that is it basically.

"Things change quickly in football. All I know is the offer has been accepted and I'm a Villa player now and the Newcastle chapter is ended."

O'Neill is delighted to have finally managed to sign Milner after the disappointment of two years ago.

He said: "James has got a great spirit about him and I definitely think his best years are in front of him.

"It was disappointing two years ago not to sign him when we thought the deal with done and dusted but it is nice to have got it all sorted this time."

James Milner Factfile:

1986: Born on January 4 in Horsforth, near Leeds.

2001: August 1 - Joins Leeds as trainee.

2002: Plays for England Under-17s in summer tournament, impressing Elland Road club enough to earn a move into the ranks of senior football in the following season.

November - Makes full debut as substitute at West Ham, becoming second youngest player ever to play in Premiership behind Coventry's Gary McSheffrey.

At 16 years and 309 days is also second youngest ever player at Elland Road behind Leeds legend Peter Lorimer who was 15 years and 289 days when he made his debut against Southampton in September, 1962.

December - Breaks Wayne Rooney's record as youngest Premiership scorer by four days when he secures in win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light at the age of 16 years and 357 days.

2003: September - Joins Swindon on loan for a month, scoring twice in six appearances.

November 29 - Scores in Leeds' 1-0 win over Charlton at The Valley to end a run of six successive defeats.

2004: May - Suffers relegation from the Premiership after Leeds finish second from bottom.

May 12 - Denies asking board for a new deal as speculation over a move from Elland Road grows.

May 13 - Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner claims Milner is the future of Leeds despite player being linked with £5million move to Spurs, as Milner again reiterates his desire to stay with his hometown club.

June 4 - Set for talks with Elland Road bosses on new contract.

June 29 - Mick McGuire, acting as Milner's agent through the PFA, denies a new contract and a 100% pay rise has been rejected.

July 2 - Milner signs five-year contract at Newcastle in a deal that could be worth up to £5million for Leeds.

2005: August 31 - Joins Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the 2005-06 season.

2006: February 2 - Then Villa chairman Doug Ellis opens talks with counterpart Freddy Shepherd over a potential deal for the winger.

May 8 - Milner returns to Newcastle after a proposed £3million deal between the two clubs breaks down.

2007: May - Ends the season having made 53 appearances.

July 12 - Pens a new four-year deal that keeps him contracted to the club until 2011.

August 27 - Newcastle confirm Milner has handed in a transfer request.

August 29 - Signs a four-year deal with Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £10million.