Matt Lowton signs new four-year deal at Aston Villa

Aston Villa defender Matt Lowton has committed his future to the club by signing a new four-year deal.

The 24-year-old joined the Villans last season in a £3m deal from Sheffield United and enjoyed an impressive campaign under manager Paul Lambert.

"It is a very exciting time for the club," he told the club's official website. "We went through some difficult periods last season but we finished strongly and had won a lot of people over by the end of the season.

"With the new signings this season as well as some players signing new contracts, the likes of me and Ashley, Andi, Brad, Ciaran and Nathan, it shows the club is moving forward and it's really exciting to be a part of that."

Lowton joined star striker Christian Benteke to sign a new deal at Villa on Friday after the Belgium international withdrew his transfer request and penned a contract until 2017.