Thaindian News

London, July 18 (DPA) Birmingham City completed the signing of midfielder Barry Ferguson from Rangers Saturday.
The 31-year-old, who moved for a 1.25-million-pound ($2-million) fee, has signed a three-year contract.

Ferguson had been a hugely popular figure at Ibrox, until being stripped of the captaincy last season after following up a drinking session while on international duty by making offensive gestures at a photographer.

“For me, Barry is a midfielder at his peak,” Birmingham manager Alex McLeish, who was once Ferguson’s boss at Rangers, told the club website.

“I don’t think 31 is too old for a central midfielder of great experience.

“Players like Gordon Strachan and Gary McAllister continued playing into their late 30s and these were guys who were not afraid of the ball,” McLeish added.

“I think Barry can play on for a good few years yet. He’s a guy that always turned up for work. By that I mean that his appearances over the years have always been fantastic.

“Barry has got the culture of the true-grit Brit, who will go through brick walls to play football.

“He has a winning mentality, and that is proven by all the winners’ medals he has won,” the Birmingham manager said.

Ferguson’s one previous spell in the Premier League, with Blackburn Rovers, was hampered by injury.