Striker Scott Hogan has left Brentford to join Sky Bet Championship rivals Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee. The fee, the largest ever received for a Brentford player, was agreed today, Tuesday 31 January, for the 24-year-old and he completed a medical this afternoon. The striker has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the mid-table side Midlands side and finalised a Transfer Deadline Day move this evening, as his new team were being beaten by his old at Griffin Park.

Scott has been with Brentford for two-and-a-half-years but played just 36 games due to two serious knee injuries. He started 27 times for The Bees and scored 21 goals, notching them all in 33 Sky Bet Championship appearances. His form in September 2016 earned him the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award and he was nominated for the same prize four months earlier.

Dean Smith, Brentford FC Head Coach, said: “I am sorry to lose Scott. He has done a great job for us since recovering from the serious injuries he suffered and worked very hard to get to the level he has. We wish him all the best as he moves on.”

Phil Giles, Brentford FC Co-Director of Football, said: "There has been interest in Scott throughout the January transfer window from several clubs. The Club turned down several bids as it did not meet our valuation of the player - as per our Club policy. Aston Villa approached us quite late in the window and were quick to meet that valuation, which we accepted. It's a good move for Scott and I'm sure that, given his incredible determination and will to improve, he will be a big success for Villa. We wish him well."

Scott arrived at Griffin Park in August 2014 after helping Rochdale win automatic promotion from Sky Bet League Two. He scored 17 goals in 33 games and was awarded a place in the 2013/14 PFA League Two Team of the Year. Scott came through the youth ranks at Rochdale but was released in 2010 before he had made a First Team appearance. After three years in non-league he went back to Rochdale and helped them out of League Two in his one year back at the Greater Manchester side.