JAMES Milner became Villa's record £10 million signing as he completed his switch from Newcastle United.
The 22-year-old spent the 2005-06 season on loan at Villa and has signed on a four year deal taking Villa's summer spending to around £33.5million on seven players- or a staggering £42.5million on eight if you include Curtis Davies.
Milner completed a medical at Bodymoor Heath this morning and will make his debut against Liverpool on Sunday.
He said: "A lot has happened at this club since I was last here and I'm obviously delighted to be back. I was so close a couple of years ago but now I'm back.
"We've got a new training ground and a lot of new faces - on the staff and in the playing squad.
"This is a club on the way up and things have got better and better every season since I was last here. It's an exciting time to be here. This is a great place to be now. There's lots of young English talent.
"The top-four are the top-four and Aston Villa are getting better and better. We should be challenging now and as we look to improve we will be challenging.
Milner came within minutes of joining Villa in Martin O'Neill's first summer at the club before being recalled by then Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder.
He added: "Martin O'Neill was a massive pull and I was ready to sign for him two years ago. He's got a great record and he's a fantastic manager. Look at the job he's done wherever he's been.
"Look at the squad he's built here. There are players in the England squad and players pushing to be involved. A lot of that's down to the manager.
"I've played 180 Premier League games and been involved in Europe as well. I'm lucky enough that I started when I was 16 so I've got a lot of football under my belt.
"I'm obviously a lot more experienced than when I was last here but I'm still young and still learning. This is a superb place to be with the players, the manager and the coaching staff we have here.
It marks a remarkable return for the player on a day when Villa were drawn to face Bulgarian side PFC Litex Lovech in the UEFA Cup first round.
Twice Bulgarian champions and three times Bulgarian cup winners they finished fourth in the Bulgarian league last season to secure a place in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round where they beat Israeli side Kiryat Shmona FC 2-1.
Former skipper Gareth Barry is delighted with the tie: " It's important for this club to be back in the UEFA Cup. It's nice for the fans to experience European football again and a club like ourselves should be playing in Europe year in, year out.
"The earlier rounds will set us up nicely and give the lads a bit of experience in travelling away from home.
"We've got to get used to playing two games in a week and that's why it was important for the manager to add to the squad this summer. Hopefully he can add more.
Barry is now happy to put a torrid personal summer behind him.
He added: "There's been a lot of speculation over the summer but I just want to concentrate on my football now. I'm at Aston Villa and I'm giving 100 per cent.