DARREN Bent will be officially unveiled as Villa’s £18 million star striker today after chairman Randy Lerner astonishingly smashed the club’s transfer record.

And manager Gerard Houllier will NOT be forced to cash in on prize assets Ashley Young and Stewart Downing this month to finance Villa’s biggest ever deal.

Bent’s transfer fee could rise to as much as £24 million, depending on add-ons, which would double the claret and blues’ previous highest £12 million outlay on a player.

The astounding deal for the Sunderland favourite is a statement of intent from Lerner of his determination to revitalise Villa after their alarming tumble down the Premier League this season.

Lerner’s decision to sanction such a marquee signing is also a unanimous show of faith in Houllier and the board’s commitment to back the Frenchman’s revolution.

It takes Villa’s spending in the past week to £23 million following the arrival of Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun for £5m plus from Lyon at the weekend.

Bent boasts 153 club goals in 363 appearances, including 129 in 312 league games, while his Premier League tally is an impressive 82 goals in 190 games.