JAMIE Clapham this afternoon completed a £1.5million move from Ipswich Town to Birmingham City.The midfield man or defender travelled to St Andrew's for talks with Brum manager Steve Bruce and chairman David Gold after Town accepted the West Midlands club's offer.
JAMIE Clapham this afternoon completed a £1.5million move from Ipswich Town to Birmingham City.
The midfield man or defender travelled to St Andrew's for talks with Brum manager Steve Bruce and chairman David Gold after Town accepted the West Midlands club's offer.
Clapham said today: "I can honestly say that I knew nothing about this at the weekend – it came right out of the blue."
Earlier, Clapham's agent Andrew Mills said: "The situation is in the balance. From Jamie's point of view, it's not a necessity to move. He's certainly not desperate to get away from Ipswich, far from it.
"He loves manager Joe Royle and feels that he's bringing the very best out of him again.
"Jamie is happy in Suffolk. He's enjoying his football. He's at a good club and in a nice part of the world."
Blues boss Royle said: "I will be very sad to lose Jamie, but the situation is that the club needs to sell someone.
"I was well aware of the position here when I came in October. I knew that we needed to sell a player."
Birmingham are heavily cash-strapped themselves. Co-owner David Gold and chairman David Sullivan are putting the money up for the Clapham deal.
City were also hoping to sign Tottenham midfielder Stephen Clemence today.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here