Aston Villa have completed the signing of Evann Guessand from Nice for a fee of around £28million.
The 24-year-old becomes Villa's first major signing of the transfer window.
Capable of playing as a striker or out wide, Guessand scored 21 goals in 109 appearances for Nice, while he provided 15 assists.
Guessand outlined the key part that Villa boss Unai Emery played in bringing him to the club.
Guessand told Villa's official website: 'Really happy to be here. I was waiting for this moment since a long time ago, and now I'm just excited to start the game, see the fans, and my team-mates, start to train with them.
'I was watching the games of Aston Villa in the last seasons, and after that we started talking with the coach.
'To be honest, our talks were the main point, because he really is the person who convinced me to come here, and of course we know the career of this coach.
'A long time ago, I saw him in the French league, and he's known for the way he used to improve the players he used to work with, so I was thinking about this.
'I'm a young player and I want to improve. I have many qualities that can improve, so when I spoke with the coach, I (knew) this is the right coach for me to become better and better.'
Guessand developed well during loan spells at Lausanne-Sport and Nantes.
12 of his goals for Nice came in Ligue 1 last season as he made a major impact.
Despite having represented France, his country of birth, at youth level, he now plays for Ivory Coast on the senior stage and has scored once in ten appearances.