After the deal was signed the England international was hugged by Villa chairman Doug Ellis to seal the agreement.

Villa, who had already had three separate �5.1million bids for the player rejected by the Highfield Road club, upped their offer to �5.75m, which brought a more positive response.

Talks between the player and Villa and the player's agent were completed on Thursday afternoon and Dublin could make his debut on Saturday against Blackburn.

Coventry boss Gordon Strachan predicted that it would take 90 seconds to end the long-running saga, which started when his club accepted a �6.75m bid for their captain from Blackburn last week.

Dublin turned down that move, and the possibility of a transfer to Leeds, declaring that he was not willing to uproot his wife and children from their Stratford home.

It left Villa as the only runner in the race, although the situation became increasingly more political.

Arguments raged over an alleged clause in Dublin's contract which demanded that he be notified of any bids for him over �5m.

Villa boss John Gregory appeared unwilling to pay any more than the minimum, while Coventry chairman Bryan Richardson was desperately trying to offload the player to a club who were prepared to bid more than Villa.

It leaves Strachan without his star player and rumours that the Sky Blues will look towards Scandinavia for a replacement for the utility player.