Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel has joined Major League Soccer outfit New York Red Bulls.

The 31-year-old, who cost Villa #9.5million when they bought him from River Plate in Argentina in 2001, is thought to have signed a two-year contract with the American club.

He joins former Manchester City midfielder and USA captain Claudio Reyna in New Jersey.

The terms of Angel’s move will remain undisclosed, such is MLS policy, though it had been thought Red Bulls were prepared in effect to take over the final year of his Villa contract - worth around #40,000 a week - plus another 12-month deal on top for the 31-year-old.

The Colombian joins as the team’s second designated player alongside Reyna. He scored 62 goals in 205 appearances for the midlanders.

Angel admitted his failure to command a regular starting berth at Villa Park following the arrivals of Ashley Young and John Carew in the January transfer window had played a part in his decision.

"It has been frustrating not being in the team but there have been a lot of changes at the club and there has been a new owner (American Randy Lerner)," he told mlsnet.com.

"I got a good start to the season and scored a couple of goals. But the club is in the process of changing a lot of things and I got the chance to speak to the manager as I wasn’t playing on a regular basis

"I am a player who needs to play football. I started to ask questions of the manager (Martin O’Neill) about whether there was a chance to have a look at this opportunity. He basically gave me the green light."

Despite that Angel looked back on his time in England with affection and thanked O’Neill. He said: "I would like to thank Martin O’Neill, Aston Villa and especially the supporters who have always made me feel so welcome and I will always have great memories of my time at the club. I wish the club well for the future."