One of Reading's shining lights in 2007/08, Shorey will now hope to take his form to a slightly grander stage with Villa
You can tell who a relegated clubs brightest stars are, because they’re the first names tabloids link with moves away. So it was with left-back Shorey, linked as soon as the Royals were relegated with a move to West Ham to keep in contention for an England place.
However it was the Premier League's other boys in claret and blue, Aston Villa, that signed the man who made his England bow against Brazil in 2007.
It’s a long way from Leyton Orient, where the Romford-born left-back’s first 15 games impressed then-Reading boss Alan Pardew enough to shell out a princely £25,000. Within a year he was a first choice and went on to become a star performer during the Royals’ two seasons of Premier League football.
Solid in the tackle, Shorey’s ability to quickly turn defence into attack caught the eye enough to earn him England recognition after just a year in the top flight.