Bullard leaves Fulham for Hull

(GETTY IMAGES)

Hull have completed the signing of midfielder Jimmy Bullard for a club record £5m fee from Fulham.

The 30-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at the KC Stadium, after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

Bullard is likely to be officially unveiled tomorrow and paraded to supporters before the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Millwall at the KC Stadium.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson confirmed earlier today that Bullard would be joining Hull after agreeing personal terms.

The 30-year-old England squad member opted for the move once negotiations over a new contract at Fulham broke down over his wage demands and the length of the deal.

Hodgson said: "It's disappointing to lose Jimmy.

"We said all along that we'd like to keep all of our players but the possibility of Jimmy leaving has been there all the time.

"He's been seeking the type of contract we couldn't give him. I congratulate Hull and Jimmy on getting the contract he wanted.

"There's still some paperwork to be completed. But my understanding is Jimmy has agreed a contract which just needs finalising.

"It wasn't just wage demands prompting Jimmy to go, but the length of contract too.

"He's 31 this year and didn't feel able to provide him with the contract he wanted.

"The transfer fee that has been negotiated is suitable for a player of his age. I thank Jimmy for the year of work he did under me."

The Tigers made their move for Bullard after Bolton pulled out of a potential deal last week and are thought to have beaten off a number of clubs for his signature.

Middlesbrough and Arsenal, amongst others, were also linked to the player after it became apparent he was seeking a move from Craven Cottage.

The deal smashes the previous club record fees of £2.5m paid for defenders Anthony Gardner last summer and Kamil Zayatte earlier today.

Manager Phil Brown said: "It is a sign of how serious [chairman] Paul Duffen is, how serious Phil Brown is and how serious Hull City is with regards to this Premier League campaign.

"The only way to sell Hull City's plight to Jimmy Bullard is to show him the ambition of the football club, the ambition of the manager and the chairman and play the type of football he likes to play.

"He has been impressed with the way we have approached the Premier League this year and he heard what he wanted to hear."

Bullard is Hull's third signing of the January transfer window following the arrivals of Kevin Kilbane from Wigan and Manucho on loan from Manchester United last week.

In other business, Hull have also completed the permanent signing of Zayatte from Swiss club Young Boys and agreed a new contract with left-back Andy Dawson until 2011.

Guinea international Zayatte, 23, has impressed on loan this season and has now agreed personal terms on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Dawson, 30, has played for the club in all four divisions and shone in the early part of the season before suffering an Achilles injury in November.

He is now fit again and in contention to start against Millwall, while Zayatte is also available for the fourth-round clash after suspension.

Manucho is set to make his first start but Kilbane is cup-tied and Craig Fagan banned.

Hull are hoping for a lift against the Lions after an alarming slump in form in the Barclays Premier League.

The Tigers have slipped to ninth after a run of just one win in 13 games and are just six points above the bottom three.

Brown said: "For me it is a massive game. Millwall will be a tough match but it will be nice to get into the fifth round for everyone at the football club.

"It is 20 years since we have been in the fourth round and we are here now with a chance to progress further."

Meanwhile, Brown has commented for the first time on the departure of striker Marlon King this week.

King had been on a season-long loan from Wigan but the agreement was terminated after a dispute between the player and Brown.

King took exception to Brown's decision to leave him out of the starting line-up to face Arsenal last week and was consequently left out of the squad altogether. He has since agreed to join Middlesbrough on loan.

Brown said: "As far as I am concerned, whenever I pick a team it is for the right reasons.

"For one player to disagree with that in front of the rest of the players is not the way forward for my changing room, hence the reason we decided to part ways."

King scored five goals for Hull during his time at the club but Brown suggested he was not impressed with the player's overall contribution.

When asked if he was disappointed how events had transpired given how well King had played, Brown replied: "That's opinion."

Brown has also dismissed reports linking him with a loan move for another Wigan striker, Henri Camara.