Aston Villa have agreed a fee of £7.8million with SPL giants Rangers for Spanish central defender Carlos Cuellar.The 26-year-old will now discuss terms with Villa, whose bid has invoked a release clause in Cuellar's contract.

Rangers on Monday night confirmed they had accepted a bid of 10 million euros for the player (£7.8million).

Cuellar was outstanding for Rangers after joining the Scottish club from Osasuna last season.

He was instrumental in their run to the UEFA Cup final but leaves Ibrox just a week after a humiliating early exit from the Champions League at the qualifying stages.

Rangers revealed they offered the player a substantially improved contract but it was declined due to his desire to move to the Premier League.

Cuellar told the Rangers website: "My ambition has always been to play for my national team and I believe that playing in the biggest league in the world for Aston Villa will help me realise that.

"When I told Martin Bain on Sunday that I wanted to leave, I did so with sadness.

"The Rangers supporters have been fantastic to me, but I am young and want to play at the highest level and I hope they will always welcome me back. I want to thank them for everything."

Rangers manager Walter Smith has expressed his disappointment at Cuellar's decision to leave.

He said: "This has come as a surprise and I am disappointed. Carlos Cuellar has been a great player for the football club and inevitably there has been speculation about him playing in the Premiership.

"The club has received a substantial uplift in fee and we will now reinvest in the team."

Cuellar is set to become Villa's sixth signing of the summer following Curtis Davies, Steve Sidwell, Luke Young, Nicky Shorey and Brad Friedel.

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