Fabian Delph will stay with Villa.

Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has ruled out a move to Manchester City and insisted he will stay with Tim Sherwood’s side.

Delph did not fly out with the rest of the Villa squad for their training camp in Portugal last week amid strong speculation that he was poised for an £8 million move to the Etihad Stadium.

But Delph yesterday released a statement via Villa’s website to dismiss the story.

“I’m aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight,” Delph said.

“I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”

Delph was on Manuel Pellegrini’s radar as City are keen to boost their home-grown quota following the loss of James Milner to Liverpool and Frank Lampard to New York City.

Delph signed a new Villa contract earlier this year with his previous deal having been due to expire this summer, but it had been reported that City would meet a release clause in that contract.

His re-commitment to the cause will come as a major boost to Sherwood, who has signed two players from City – Scott Sinclair and Micah Richards – as well as midfielder Idrissa Gueye from Lille this summer.