By Wayne Veysey

13th Jan, 2022 | 2:33pm

Sources: Aston Villa agree third January signing after Smith bid accepted

Aston Villa have reached an agreement to sign Scottish sensation Kerr Smith from Dundee United, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.

Villa have beaten off interest from a number of Premier League rivals to agree a deal for the 17-year-old defender.

A Villa source has told Football Insider that Smith has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal and will become their third new signing of this January transfer window.

This follows the captures of Lucas Digne from Everton on a permanent deal and Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona on a loan-to-buy transfer.

Villa announced the capture of Digne, 28, on Thursday morning after completing the Coutinho deal last Thursday.

Smith is not an established star like those two but he is rated very highly by the Midlands giants’ recruitment team and regarded as a first teamer of the future.

Football Insider broke the news last Sunday (9 January) that Villa had submitted a bid for the Dundee United teenager.

Smith is already a first-team player at his current club, who play in the Scottish Premiership.

He has made seven appearances in all competitions this season to add to the five he made during last season’s breakthrough campaign.

His first senior outing came off the bench on 21 February 2021 as his side were beaten 4-1 by Rangers at Ibrox.

Smith has started three league games this season among seven appearances in all competitions and played the full 90 minutes as his side held on to secure an impressive 1-1 draw with Celtic on 26 September.

In other news, Aston Villa have put the finishing touches to a £53m deal as January spree continues.