Tottenham midfielder Wayne Routledge will be looking to rebuild his career after completing a £1.5m move to Aston Villa.

The 23-year-old put pen to paper on an 18-month contract last night after passing a medical and becomes Villa manager Martin O’Neill’s first signing during the January transfer window.

And Major Soccer League goalkeeper Brad Guzan could soon become the second new addition in a £2m move from Chivas subject to obtaining a work permit.

Former England Under-21 international Routledge was regarded as one of the country’s brightest prospects when he moved to Tottenham in the summer of 2005 after making more than 100 appearances for Crystal Palace.

But he suffered a broken foot on his league debut against Portsmouth which sidelined him for four months and never established himself at Spurs.

Routledge was loaned to Pompey in January 2006 and helped them to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League in a spectacular recovery during the second half of the season.

Then last season he temporarily joined Fulham as part of the deal which saw Steed Malbranque move to Spurs.

During the current campaign Routledge has made only two appearances for Tottenham – both in August against Everton and Derby – and will welcome the chance to revive his fortunes under O’Neill.

Routledge’s arrival would give O’Neill the natural right-sided player he has been lacking this season when Stiliyan Petrov and Craig Gardner have occupied the role.

Guzan’s expected move will mean Villa having four keepers although Thomas Sorensen is out of contract in the summer and his deputy Stuart Taylor has only 17 months left of his current deal.