The deal to bring the 25-year-old striker to Eastlands on a four-year contract was completed this morning, and before heading off to start training with his new team-mates, Darius was obviously pleased that everything had been tied up.
“In the last couple of weeks I found out there was a little bit of interest, and I got quite excited and fortunately today I’ve made a dream come true.
“I thought the time was right for me to make a fresh start and I have always wanted to go to a big club when that time came along, and with City coming in for me there was only one decision for me to make.”
Darius played against City as recently as early May, when the Blues came away from Villa Park with a 2-1 victory, and the striker was impressed by what he saw that day.
“They scored against us straight away and I thought ‘Oh-oh!’. They had been doing well in the Premiership for a while, and if you look at where they finished and where they could have finished if they had scored the penalty at he end, it was a fantastic achievement. Hopeully we can build on that this season.”
As well as being impressed by the City team he faced that day, Darius says that what manager Stuart Pearce has achieved off the pitch was a factor in his decision to make the trip up the M6, after playing for Villa for the whole of his professional career so far.
“I played against him a couple of times, his record speaks for itself. When I found out he was interested in me it was a great confidence booster when I was at a bit of a low, having been injured for a while. I met him a couple of days ago and I really like the ideas that he has got for the team, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Darius will also see some familiar faces when he arrives at the Carrington training ground, having been in the England set-up alongside the likes of David James, Robbie Fowler and Danny Mills on many occasions, especially the World Cup in 2002. This, he feels, will be a great benefit as he settles in to his new surroundings.
“It’s always a great help, I’ve never been in this situation before and coming to a new club you think about what players you know, or what do you know about the other players.
“I’ve actually experienced spending a bit of time with these guys in the World Cup, I’m sure they’ll look after me. I’ve already met Robbie, he’s a great lad, and I can’t wait to come here and start training and start learning.”
