Reo-Coker, Carew and Pires released in Aston Villa clear-out

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Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew and Robert Pires are among 10 players released today by Aston Villa. First-team squad members Moustapha Salifou and Isaiah Osbourne have also been allowed to leave Villa Park along with youngsters Durrell Berry, Ellis Deeney, Calum Flanagan, Harry Forrester and Arsenio Halfhuid.

Former England Under-21 captain Reo-Coker had featured regularly for Villa since signing from West Ham in 2007 but will now be looking for a new club, as will Norwegian forward Carew who spent the second part of last season on loan at Stoke.

Pires has been tipped to join former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry in Major League Soccer in the United States and the 37-year-old was never likely to extend his original six-month contract.

Reo-Coker moved to Villa Park from West Ham for £8.5million four years ago and captained the side several times during his stay. He featured in 30 Premier League games last season but has now been deemed surplus to requirements.

Carew, 31, joined the club with a genuine European pedigree and finished as Villa's leading goalscorer in three successive seasons before falling down the pecking order.

Veteran French midfielder Pires had plenty of Premier League experience with Arsenal and after training with his former club to regain match fitness he was offered a short-term deal by Villa boss and fellow Frenchman Gerard Houllier in November.

Meanwhile, Norwich have signed forward James Vaughan from Everton for an undisclosed fee as Canaries manager Paul Lambert looks to build a squad capable of keeping the East Anglia club in the Premier League.

The former England Under-21 international has agreed a three-year deal at Carrow Road, subject to the completion of relevant paperwork. Vaughan has had loan spells at Leicester, Derby and Crystal Palace in the past few seasons after struggling to establish himself at Goodison Park.

The 22-year-old came through the ranks with Everton but his first-team opportunities remained limited and he has now become the first new addition to Lambert's Norwich squad ahead of their return to the top-flight.

"He's someone who fits in with the group in the sense that he's hungry to do well and has great desire," Lambert said. "He's already shown great potential as a young player with Everton and when I have seen him playing for them and for Crystal Palace I have always thought he was a threat in and around the box."