Delph performs his quickest ever turn

A week after rejecting a move to Manchester City, former Aston Villa captain Fabian Delph has finally agreed to join Manuel Pellegrini's side, having performed the swiftest 180-degree turn of his entire career.

Delph's inability to face more than one way over the course of ninety minutes has often seen him spend the first half as a defensive midfielder, becoming an attacking midfielder after the interval.

The ex-Leeds man has now signed a five-year deal at Eastlands, after learning that his lack of mobility would not be a problem when sitting on the Manchester City bench or picking up weekly cheques for £100,000.

Villa fan Jo Adams said: "Del-Boy [Fabian Delph] normally takes a good while to change direction, much like a trawler, or a comet.

"Seeing him turn around so completely in just seven days is extraordinary. A movement like that would put intolerable strain on his spine, if he had one.

"£8 million might be cheap for an England international, but it's a lot for a human-sized table football figurine."

The Delph Turn was amazing to watch in training. Like the Cruyff Turn, if Johan Cruyff was a three-wheeled articulated lorry in a swamp

Delph's ex-teammate Ashley Westwood said: "The Delph Turn was amazing to watch in training. Like the Cruyff Turn, if Johan Cruyff was a three-wheeled articulated lorry in a swamp.

"I never got a chance to say goodbye. I walked past him five minutes ago, but it would take far too long for either of us to turn around now."

Commenting on the deal, Pellegrini said: "Fabian wants trophies, but he's less concerned about playing a part in winning them, which is exactly the sort of ambition we want.

"If I had to pick his best feature, however, it would have to be his invaluable range of passport."

More from Back of the Net

Latest in Stories
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: manager Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Micky van de Venand Cristian Romero during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and West Ham United FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Tottenham star Cristian Romero 'willing to do everything' to LEAVE: report
Latest in Features
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
 Sheila Garcia of Real Madrid CF battle for the ball with Alessia Russo of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 18, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
'Over two legs I expected Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, I still think they can despite being 2-0 down,' says former Lioness Izzy Christiansen
Luiz Diaz of Colombia celebrates with James Rodriguez of Colombia after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Colombia vs Paraguay: Live streams for World Cup qualifier
Uruguay's Argentine head coach Marcelo Bielsa (R) gives instructions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Uruguay and Argentina at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, on March 21, 2025.
How to watch Bolivia vs Uruguay: Live streams for Conmebol World Cup qualifying
BRASILIA, BRAZIL - MARCH 20, 2025: Vinicius Junior of Brazil in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers match between Brazil and Colombia at Arena BRB Mane Garrincha.
How to watch Argentina vs Brazil: Live streams for blockbuster World Cup qualifier
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on March 08, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Quiz! Can you name FourFourTwo's greatest Premier League players ever?