diff --git a/addons/project/project.py b/addons/project/project.py
index ab715b0a2fc..d1f0d6ea43d 100644
--- a/addons/project/project.py
+++ b/addons/project/project.py
@@ -582,8 +582,9 @@ class task(osv.osv):
         'write_date': fields.datetime('Last Modification Date', readonly=True, select=True), #not displayed in the view but it might be useful with base_action_rule module (and it needs to be defined first for that)
         'date_start': fields.datetime('Starting Date', select=True, copy=False),
         'date_end': fields.datetime('Ending Date', select=True, copy=False),
+        'date_assign': fields.datetime('Assigning Date', select=True, copy=False, readonly=True),
         'date_deadline': fields.date('Deadline', select=True, copy=False),
-        'date_last_stage_update': fields.datetime('Last Stage Update', select=True, copy=False),
+        'date_last_stage_update': fields.datetime('Last Stage Update', select=True, copy=False, readonly=True),
         'project_id': fields.many2one('project.project', 'Project', ondelete='set null', select=True, track_visibility='onchange', change_default=True),
         'parent_ids': fields.many2many('project.task', 'project_task_parent_rel', 'task_id', 'parent_id', 'Parent Tasks'),
         'child_ids': fields.many2many('project.task', 'project_task_parent_rel', 'parent_id', 'task_id', 'Delegated Tasks'),
@@ -780,9 +781,9 @@ class task(osv.osv):
         # for default stage
         if vals.get('project_id') and not context.get('default_project_id'):
             context['default_project_id'] = vals.get('project_id')
-        # user_id change: update date_start
-        if vals.get('user_id') and not vals.get('date_start'):
-            vals['date_start'] = fields.datetime.now()
+        # user_id change: update date_assign
+        if vals.get('user_id'):
+            vals['date_assign'] = fields.datetime.now()
 
         # context: no_log, because subtype already handle this
         create_context = dict(context, mail_create_nolog=True)
@@ -797,9 +798,9 @@ class task(osv.osv):
         # stage change: update date_last_stage_update
         if 'stage_id' in vals:
             vals['date_last_stage_update'] = fields.datetime.now()
-        # user_id change: update date_start
-        if vals.get('user_id') and 'date_start' not in vals:
-            vals['date_start'] = fields.datetime.now()
+        # user_id change: update date_assign
+        if vals.get('user_id'):
+            vals['date_assign'] = fields.datetime.now()
 
         # Overridden to reset the kanban_state to normal whenever
         # the stage (stage_id) of the task changes.
diff --git a/addons/project/project_view.xml b/addons/project/project_view.xml
index f6254fbce79..00fe0178756 100644
--- a/addons/project/project_view.xml
+++ b/addons/project/project_view.xml
@@ -292,10 +292,15 @@
                         </page>
                         <page string="Extra Info">
                             <group col="4">
-                                <field name="sequence" groups="base.group_no_one"/>
-                                <field name="partner_id"/>
-                                <field name="company_id" groups="base.group_multi_company" options="{'no_create': True}"/>
-                                <field name="date_last_stage_update" groups="base.group_no_one"/>
+                                <group col="2">
+                                    <field name="sequence" groups="base.group_no_one"/>
+                                    <field name="partner_id"/>
+                                    <field name="company_id" groups="base.group_multi_company" options="{'no_create': True}"/>
+                                </group>
+                                <group col="2">
+                                    <field name="date_assign" groups="base.group_no_one"/>
+                                    <field name="date_last_stage_update" groups="base.group_no_one"/>
+                                </group>
                             </group>
                             <group>
                                 <group string="Gantt View">