McFADDEN COMPLETES BRUM SWITCH

Birmingham have completed the signing of Everton striker James McFadden in a deal worth £6million.

The Scotland international is reunited with Blues boss Alex McLeish after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms on a three-and-a-half-year contract with an option for a further two years.

Everton announced the completion of the deal on their website on Friday morning. The deal has gone through in time for McFadden to be available for Saturday's visit of Chelsea.

Birmingham, who also confirmed the transfer, have agreed to make a down-payment of £5m with another £1m depending on appearances.

McLeish is confident McFadden can make a big impact during the next five years with Blues.

The former Scotland boss said: "I am delighted to have signed James. He is not just a guy who can score great goals. He can also create things and make things happen and he has got a big heart.

"He is the type of player you know you are going to get everything from for the entire 90 minutes of a game.

"He has matured. He has had his initiation at Everton in the Premier League and for me he is a definite Premier League player. He has shown that in a very good Everton side this season.

"When he has come into the side, I am not so sure anyone has looked as good as him."

Blues striker Garry O'Connor is relishing the chance of reigniting his partnership with McFadden in the Scotland side at club level.

He said: "This is a great positive for Birmingham. I've worked with James in the past and he is a fantastic player. It is a great addition to the squad.

"He plays in any position - midfield or striker - so he is great to have him in the team.

"We played a couple of times together for Scotland and James never loses the ball and he has got that passion and commitment towards the game.

"He fights for every ball. He has got that attitude that if he loses the ball, he gets so frustrated and has to run back and chase people.

"He has got that little bit of quality which you have seen at international level and now probably in the Premier League. He can score fantastic goals from anywhere on the pitch."

McLeish has already signed Hibernian full-back David Murphy for £1.5million and is pressing ahead with his attempt to sign Aston Villa central defender Gary Cahill after being given permission to speak to him by Martin O'Neill.

Laursen extends stay at Villa

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP) - Martin Laursen has agreed a new contract with Aston Villa which will keep the Danish centreback at the English club until the end of the 2009-10 season.

Laursen, 30, has been in outstanding form for Villa this season and manager Martin O'Neill voiced his delight that the uncertainty over the defender's future had been removed.

"He has become a firm favourite with the fans and I would think they are as pleased as we are that he is staying," O'Neill said. "Martin has been playing some wonderful football and he deserves everything he gets.

Former AC Milan defender Laursen was still dogged by knee problems when O'Neill took over at Villa Park in 2007, but he has been ever present in this campaign, notching up an impressive tally of six goals.

O'Neill added: "He has shown great determination and the way he has overcome a serious injury is a lesson to everyone.

"He has removed the doubts over his fitness by playing regularly this season. I am delighted, and so is everyone at the club, that he is staying."

Laursen said he had never seriously considered moving on.

"I have been saying all along that I would like to stay at Villa and I am glad this has all been agreed. I feel settled outside the pitch as well. I really enjoy staying here and have a good relationship with the manager and everyone around the club.

"I think we have a very good team and I want to play my part in helping Villa progress."

O'Neill meanwhile denied reports that he had held talks with Jermain Defoe, the England striker who has been made available by Tottenham.