Aston Villa have terminated the contract of Croatian striker Bosko Balaban with immediate effect. Balaban cost the midlands club £5.8million when he joined on a five-year deal from Dynamo Zagreb in August 2001, but the move turned sour and the player has not started a single Premiership game.
Balaban, who has won 15 caps for Croatia and scored six goals, was signed by John Gregory after firing 14 goals in 27 appearances for Dynamo in the 2000-01 season.
He made just eight substitute appearances in the league for Villa and his two starts came in a 1-0 victory against Croatian side Varteks Varazdin in a UEFA Cup first-round match in September 2001 and the 1-0 Worthington Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday two months later.
The club announced: "Agreement has been reached today with player, Bosko Balaban, whereby his playing contract has been terminated with immediate effect. The original five-year contract had two years and seven months still to run.
"As a consequence, Aston Villa will recognise, in the financial year ended May 31 2004, a pre-tax player trading loss on the termination (after deduction of the unamortised costs) of £3.2 million. However, Aston Villa will benefit from substantial savings in wages and future amortisation costs.
"In cash terms this represents a saving of £2million spread over the remaining term of the contract."
Balaban said: "It has been a nightmare two years. I signed for five years when I arrived and I have spent two years in the stand."