Bolton Wanderers have completed the signings of Aston Villa defender Zat Knight and Hull City full-back Sam Ricketts on three-year deals.

Centre-back Knight, who has won two England caps, joined Villa in the summer of 2007 from Fulham in a £3.5m deal but struggled for regular first-team football, starting just 13 Premier League games last season. Wales international Ricketts, who can play on the left or the right of a back four, started 27 of the Tigers' games in their debut season in the top flight.

They are Wanderers manager Gary Megson's third and fourth signings of the summer, with the club having brought in Sean Davis after his contract at Portsmouth expired and also defender Paul Robinson from West Bromwich Albion. Megson was delighted with the acquisitions.

I am sure that they will fit in to the squad and we are going to make sure that we help them with their new challenge.
Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson

"We are really pleased that we could complete the deals. Both players had other offers to consider," the Bolton manager said. "There was a huge amount of work done by the chairman [Phil Gartside], with the support of [owner] Eddie Davies, to make these to happen.

"I am sure that they will fit in to the squad and we are going to make sure that we help them with their new challenge," said Megson.

"Zat has plenty of Premier League experience and has played at the highest level with England, while Sam personally had a successful debut Premier League campaign with Hull."

Lee too
Bolton are also close to bringing in South Korea international Lee Chung-Yong from FC Seoul. The 21-year-old has spent the past week in the north of England, where according to the K-League side Lee reached a verbal agreement on a three-year deal for a transfer fee of about £2.1m.

"The contract will be signed officially after a work permit is issued," FC Seoul said in a statement. Lee returned to Seoul yesterday confident the deal would go ahead.

"On my second day in England I had the medical tests and looked at the training facilities. I thought they were very good. I was jealous," he said. "It was my dream to play there so I am so happy.

"To adjust quickly, I need to get to know my team-mates. I met manager Gary Megson a few times. He spoke to me, but as I can't speak English, I couldn't understand him.

"We haven't quite agreed the details of the contract, but we will do so when the work permit is sorted," he said. "In about 15 days I should get the work permit. Until it comes, I will spend my time training as hard as possible."

Lee, who has already made 15 appearances for the national team, would become the seventh Korean player to ply his trade in England, should the deal go through.