Birmingham City have signed Arsenal defender Matthew Upson in a deal thought to be in region of €4.5 million. Upson - the subject of 11th-hour interest from Leeds - put pen to paper this lunch-time and has become Blues manager Steve Bruce's sixth signing since the transfer window re-opened.
City had made an offer to Arsenal on New Year's Day which was finally accepted - although Arsene Wenger would have liked the player to remain at Highbury – and now Upson has agreed to move to the Midlands.
The Blues will announce details of the deal at a 3.30pm press conference today but it is understood the Gunners will receive an initial £1million which could rise to around £3million depending on appearances and City's success.
Upson is desperate for regular first-team football and even went on loan to First Division Reading earlier this season, where he played a key part in their rise up the First Division table. But the former England Under-21 centre-back knew that his chances of achieving that goal at Highbury were remote.
Upson joins Piotr Swierczewski - who joined on loan from Marseille yesterday - Ferdinand Coly, Christophe Dugarry, Jamie Clapham and Stephen Clemence in moving to St Andrews in the past three weeks.
Filed by Johnny Proby
