#PLStories- #DannyIngs on why he left Southampton FC for Aston Villa #AVFC #SAINTSFC

DANNY Ings insists the chance to join Aston Villa was "a challenge I couldn't really shy away from" after completing his £30million move from Saints. Ings's transfer stunned football fans across the country last night, announced by the Midlands club just minutes before Saints kicked off a pre-season friendly against Levante at St Mary's Stadium. And the 29-year-old has now explained why he left the south coast for Dean Smith's side. "To be honest, I’ve been at a lot of places in my career, but this was definitely the best-kept secret really," Ings told VillaTV. "It’s been a crazy couple of days, not being able to tell my family up until it was announced. Now I’m just happy to be here and get started. "I think the club itself is a huge club, as everybody knows. You can see the direction the owner and everybody wants to take with this club. "It’s a huge club with a huge reputation and huge expectation from the fans. It was a challenge I couldn’t really shy away from and a challenge I’m looking forward to." Ings added: "I think it’s just the direction of the club and where the gaffer and everybody wants to take the club really. "It is a tough challenge. A club like this should be competing for Europe, with its history. Hopefully I can play my part in achieving that. There is definitely a lot of good times to look forward to for this football club." Villa finished 11th in the Premier League last season, 12 points and four places above Saints. They are due to visit St Mary's on November 6, and Ings hopes to quickly win the support from fans of his new club, with the Premier League set to get underway for Villa at Watford on August 14. "Everywhere that I’ve been in my career, one of the biggest things for me is to get that bond with the fans as quick as possible," said the striker. "I’ve managed to do that at every other club that I’ve been at and this is no different." Ings leaves having scored 46 goals from 100 appearances for boyhood club Saints. He also broke back into the England squad during his time at St Mary's, scoring his first Three Lions goal in a victory over Wales at Wembley last year.