The Republic of Ireland international is set to complete a temporary switch that will run until February 25.

The Galaxy will begin their pre-season schedule three days before his return with a match against the New England Revolution.

After spending time on loan at Celtic and West Ham United, Keane left Tottenham permanently in August and help Galaxy to win the MLS Cup in his debut season in California.

Keane returns to the Premier League sitting just outside of the division's top ten all-time top goalscorers, with 123 goals in the English top flight.

Keane, 31, was training with Villa before the deal and could face Everton at Villa Park on Saturday.

"I'm delighted to be back in the Premier League," he said. "This is only short term, of course, but there has been a lot of speculation over the years linking my name to Villa and, finally, I'm here.

"I'm excited about it and I know I'll really enjoy my time here. It's only for two months but I will do my absolute best in these two months.

"Villa is a great club, a club with a massive tradition and standing in the game. Villa Park is one of the finest stadiums I've ever played in.

"I've been training with the players here for the past few days and it's been great but I'm not naive enough to think I'll just walk straight into the team."

It is also a case of second time lucky for McLeish regarding the capture of Keane.

McLeish was hopeful of signing Keane 12 months ago when in charge of Birmingham, who announced they had agreed a £6m fee with Tottenham.

But the player instead went on loan to West Ham before leaving White Hart Lane for the US.

"We have been pursuing Robbie to bring him in with his extra experience in terms of the attack," he said.

"Robbie is a guy who is going to be playing in a huge tournament at the end of the season (Euro 2012). I'm sure he will not want to let his standards drop at this stage of his career.

"We should have a massively motivated boy on our hands."

McLeish considers Keane's arrival a timely boost, considering the way hissquad has been tested in recent times.

"I believe we could be doing with that when you see one or two of our players getting injured over the last couple of weeks," he said.

"We've got young kids trying to prove themselves in the Barclays Premier League but it's very scatter-gun the experience they are getting with 10 minutes here, 15 minutes there."

Villa's record signing Darren Bent, who played alongside Keane at Tottenham, said: "It's a top signing, a really clever move.

"In training, Robbie has looked razor-sharp and up for the challenge. He's a great player and he has been for many years.

"He will help all the other strikers here but, more importantly, he will help Villa. He will bring experience which will aid a few of the younger lads who are breaking through into the team and the other youngsters in and around the place."