Sidwell seals Fulham switch
Steve Sidwell has completed his move from Aston Villa to Fulham for an undisclosed fee.
The midfielder has penned a deal which will initially run for six months but could see him remain at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2014.
The 28-year-old, who emerged through the academy ranks at Arsenal and has also turned out for Reading and Chelsea, returns to the capital following a two-and-a-half-year stint at Villa.
Sidwell has opted to move on after finding first-team football hard to come by, with sporadic appearances made of late.
He is now looking forward to opening a new chapter in his career with Fulham, while he has also offered his thanks to Wolves for understanding his desire to head south.
"I'm delighted that my move to Fulham has been finalised, and I'm looking forward to training with the squad and help the club make steady progress up the table in the second half of the season," Sidwell told the club's official website.
"I'd also like to thank Jez Moxley, and Mick McCarthy in particular, at Wolverhampton Wanderers for being so understanding in my desire to return to London and to play for Fulham."
Cottagers boss Mark Hughes is delighted to have secured Sidwell's signature, his first deal of the January transfer window, at the second time of asking.
"He is a player whose career I have followed for a while now, and there was a deal in place to bring him in prior to when I arrived," he said.
"At that time I just didn't think it was the moment to make it happen because I was new to the club.
"But he has been in my thoughts ever since, and when the opportunity to sign him in the January transfer window presented itself we moved quickly knowing there was a possibility he might go somewhere else.
"His intention was that he always wanted to come to Fulham - this was his first choice and we are delighted to have him on board. He is a young man who wants to get his career back on track and start playing football again. He has a good reputation in the game and is well admired.
"On the pitch he can get from box to box, he works tirelessly, is good on the ball and can also get you a goal. He wants to be part of what we are doing here - and because of that he will do well for us."
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