Aston Villa confirm sale of club to Chinese magnate

Xia Jiantong (R), the chairman of Recon Group, who has agreed to buy English soccer club Aston Villa, smiles as he speaks to unidentified person in his office in Beijing, China May 19, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

(Reuters) - Aston Villa confirmed on Tuesday that Chinese businessman Xia Jiantong had bought the English football club which hopes a new owner and fresh cash will secure a return to the Premier League.

The Birmingham side becomes the first English football club to be owned by someone from mainland China. Xia's Recon Group bought it from American Randy Lerner for a reported 76 million pounds ($107 million).