Birmingham sign defender Johnson

Birmingham have completed the signing of Cardiff defender Roger Johnson in a £5m deal.

The 26-year-old central defender has put pen to paper on a three-year deal which will keep him at St Andrews until the summer of 2012.

Johnson is the third centre-back to join City's ranks this summer following Scott Dann and Giovanny Espinoza.

The arrival of Johnson breaks the club transfer record for a defender.

Johnson has been a revelation since his arrival at Ninian Park in 2006 from Wycombe.

Last season he was named in the Coca-Cola Championship team of the year following consistently impressive displays for the Bluebirds.

He is also a defender that frequently causes opposition defences problems from set-pieces.

Johnson began his career at Wycombe and was captain of the side before sealing a move to Cardiff for £275,000 after making 183 appearances for the Chairboys.

He was a virtual ever-present for Cardiff last term, scoring five goals for Dave Jones' side.

Johnson told Birmingham's official website: "I am really pleased to be here. Birmingham are a massive club and I am looking forward to putting the shirt on to be honest.

"Premier League football is the dream at the start of any footballer's career so I am pleased I have been given that chance with Birmingham and I can't wait to get started.

"The aim is to stay in the Premier League with Birmingham and hopefully I will have a big part to play in that.

"I want to do well for the club. At both clubs I have been at I have got on well with the fans and hopefully that will continue here."