the next season boateng transferred to aston villa for £4.5 million. he proceeded to play 131 matches for villa, including an fa cup final defeat against chelsea in 2000. the tough-tackling central midfielder then fell out with manager graham taylor in the 2001–02 season. after a move to liverpool collapsed due to demands from agents, and in spite of interest from fulham, that summer boateng completed a £5 million move to middlesbrough.