Aston Villa defender Jordan Amavi joins Marseille on loan

Aston Villa have confirmed that defender Jordan Amavi has joined Marseille on loan.

The 23-year-old left-back joined the West Midlanders from Nice for £9m two years ago but, in his first season at the club, sustained a serious knee injury while on international duty with France.

Amavi returned to fitness and got back into the team under Steve Bruce last season, in place of Aly Cissokho, but the arrival of Neil Taylor in January pushed him down the pecking order once again.

The Frenchman had looked set to join Sevilla on a permanent deal last month, only for the proposed £8m transfer to collapse when the Spanish club claimed that he failed a medical.

Villa confirmed in a tweet on Thursday: "Good luck to @JordanAmavi as he joins @OM_Officiel on loan with a view to a permanent deal..."

Amavi made 36 appearances for Villa last season in all competitions.