Tyrone Mings has completed a deadline day move to Aston Villa.
The Bournemouth defender has played just five Premier League games so far this season, and has been further pushed out of the picture following the arrival of Chris Mepham.
Eddie Howe has now sanctioned Mings’ exit, with the 25-year-old joining Championship club Villa on loan for the rest of the season.
A number of Championship clubs, including West Brom and Derby, were interested in Mings, who joined Bournemouth from Ipswich in 2015 for £8m.
But Villa boss Dean Smith has won the battle to secure his signature.
Villa are currently tenth in the Championship, four points from the play-offs places, and travel to relegation-threatened Reading on Saturday.
Smith said: “I’m very pleased. He’s an important cog in the team for us now.
“We wanted to readdress the balance, and bringing Tyrone in gives us to left-footed centre backs – and one who can play left back.
“We’ve got better cover now and a number of options. We needed to address that balance.
“He fits the profile and is a player I’ve known for quite a long time. I’ve had some really good character references on him.
“He’s athletic, he’s quick and is a Premier League player. The fit is good. He’s at the right age and is available straight away.”