The Morocco international becomes Paul Lambert's first signing since taking over as Aston Villa manager.

"I'm very excited about coming here to a massive club and I'm looking forward to playing here," El Ahmadi told the club's official website.

"I'm very happy that the manager wants me and that the club wants me and I'm looking forward to starting training again.

"It's nice that I am the manager's first transfer and I am looking forward to doing good things with the team and with the club this year.

"This club should be competing in the top half of the table and I am looking forward to achieving that with the team.

"I came to this club and spoke to the people here and they gave me great confidence in what we can do this year, so I have chosen to come.

"As a player, I always want to have the ball and that is my main quality. I always want the ball and to dictate the game. That's what I did at Feyenoord and hopefully I can show the fans, the club and the manager my quality."

Villa boss Lambert added: "Karim will help the team, I have no doubt about that.

"He's a really good footballer and he's played well in a good team, a big team, and I'm looking forward to working with him.

"In fact, I'm really looking forward to getting things going on Thursday when the lads will report back for pre-season."