Vlaar came to England in early July to meet manager Paul Lambert and try to reach an agreement for a transfer deal, but Feyenoord became frustrated with the lack of progress made. Then Villa went off to the United States on their preseason tour, without making a followup on the Vlaar situation. The player suggested that any deal that may have been in the works was becoming unlikely. 

Now, however, the 27 year old is set to join the club after agreeing to personal terms, and what is believed to be a three year contract. The Dutch international is now scheduled for a medical in Birmingham, and if all goes to plan, Villa and Feyenoord could finish up the deal next week.

Vlaar will provide competition to the other two Villa centre backs, Richard Dunne and James Collins. The latter has been linked with a move to either Sunderland or West Ham, which may have been part of the reason the deal went through.

Vlaar made his breakthrough in professional football with AZ Alkmaar, then transferred to Feyenoord in 2006. This year, he helped the club qualify for the Champions League, as they finished second in the Eredivisie. He is set to become Lambert's second defensive signing of the summer, following James Lowton who was bought from Sheffield United.