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Carsley at home with Birmingham

Lee Carsley is delighted with him move to Birmingham
Lee Carsley is delighted with him move to Birmingham

Lee Carsley will join up with several familiar faces when he arrives at Birmingham this summer having agreed a free-transfer from Everton.

City, relegated from the Barclays Premier League earlier this month, have signed Carsley subject to the midfielder completing a medical.

The 34-year-old player was a free agent after turning down the offer of a new contract at Everton and has signed a two-year deal with the relegated club as they look to rebuild ahead of next year's Championship campaign.

'My contract ran out at Everton and I was offered a new deal there but I felt it was time to move on,' Carsley told Birmingham's website.

Carsley also revealed he had contact with James McFadden recently after the Scot joined Birmingham in January.

'I played with Damien Johnson and Martin Taylor at Blackburn and obviously James McFadden at Everton,' he said. 'I spoke to Faddy towards the end of last season and he said he was enjoying his time here."

The Republic of Ireland international insisted: 'Even though I'm 34, I'm not looking to wind down. All together last season, I played over 50 games including internationals.

'I've left a club that's going to be playing in the UEFA Cup again next season so it's not something I've done lightly.

'Everyone knows how I feel about Everton. It was a fantastic club and I had a great time there. We finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh so I've been a part of cementing that club in the top six. I've now come for a fresh challenge.'

Carsley had been linked with West Brom and Derby as it emerged he wanted to move closer to his native West Midlands.

'Because my contract was up I spoke to a few clubs,' he continued. 'I was lucky in the fact that I had a good season last season and there was a lot of interest.

'It was important to me that I made the right decision because at my age I can't afford to be making any mistakes. It had to be the right club and one I felt I could win something with.

'I've had a good career so far but I've not won anything and my main thing now is to win the Championship, get back into the Premier League and stabilise the club.

'I'll be putting everything into the next couple of years to make sure we get back in the Premier League.'

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