Nationality: Spanish
Date of Birth: 23 August 1981 (Madrid, Spain)
Previous Clubs: Calahorra, Numancia, Osasuna, Glasgow Rangers
Position: Defender

Carlos Javier Cuéllar Jimenez signed a four-year deal with Villa on 12 August 2008, completing a £7.8 million transfer from Glasgow Rangers. Rangers had little option but to accept the bid as it had invoked a release clause in Cuéllar's contract.

Centre back Carlos had moved to Rangers from Spanish La Liga club Osasuna in July 2007 and had had an outstanding debut season in the Scottish Premier League (SPL), winning the SPL Player of the Year award and being named the Scottish Football Writers’ Associations Player of the Year. Rangers’ early exit from the Champions’ League prompted Carlos’ move – he is quoted as saying: “My ambition is to play for my country and I think here at Aston Villa I will have that possibility. Every player wants to play international football and that is my aim.”

[Frank Antram, 13 August 2008]
Photo: www.avfc.co.uk