1989–90 in English football for 19–year–old Leytonstone defender Warren Barton. 31 July 1989 – Norwich City pay Coventry City £525,000 for Welsh winger David Phillips. 3 August 1989 – Nottingham Forest pay Leeds United £650,000 for Republic of Ireland midfielder John Sheridan. 7 August 1989 – Everton sign Aston Villa defender Martin Keown for £750,000. 14 August 1989 – Adrian Heath returns to English football after less than a year in Spain when he joins Aston Villa from Espanyol for £360,000. 18 August 1989 – Property tycoon Michael Knighton agrees to buy control of Manchester United in a deal which is believed to be
1989–90 Aston Villa F.C. season 1989–90 Aston Villa F.C. season During the 1989–90 English football season, Aston Villa competed in the Football League First Division. Aston Villa improved drastically on the 17th place of the previous season and spent most of the season challenging for the title, finishing in second behind Liverpool. This was their highest finish since 1980–81, and a great result for a team in only its second consecutive season in the top flight. At the end of the season, manager Graham Taylor accepted an offer to take over management of the England national football team. He was replaced by Czechoslovakian Jozef Vengloš,