SWEET NORTH CAROLINA

Westwood feeling so at home in sunny Charlotte

- ANDY DEAN

ASHLEY WESTWOOD is quite literally building a new life in America after rekindling his love for football in the MLS.

The former Aston Villa and Burnley midfielder joined Charlotte FC in January 2023 and has not looked back.

Now working under ex-Villa boss Dean Smith and playing alongside former Premier League players Wilfried Zaha and Tim Ream, Westwood has got a smile on his face and the sun on his back.

He is enjoying it so much he has sold his home in England and is having a house built in North Carolina.

The 35-year-old said: "It is incredible out here. This is a great city, it's like Manchester in the sun.

"I got a bad injury in 2022 but even before then, I was losing the love for the game and it was just time for a change.