Phillips seals switch to Birmingham as McLeish hands striker a two-year deal

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The veteran striker has agreed a two-year deal and follows Everton's Lee Carsley to St Andrew's.

McLeish was keen to add experience to his ranks and Phillips certainly possesses plenty of that, having spent time at Watford, Sunderland, Villa, Southampton and the Baggies.

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City slicker: Phillips will wear the blue of Birmingham after leaving The Hawthorns

The ex-England international replaces Mikael Forssell who left for Hannover within a couple of weeks of the club's relegation from the Premier League.

Phillips was the joint leading scorer in the Championship last season with Wolves' Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, netting 22 goals and Baggies supporters named him as their player of the season.

However, West Brom's hierarchy were unwilling to match the striker's demands for a two-season agreement on his terms and he sought to look elsewhere for another deal.

And this suits as his family is well settled in Staffordshire and a move to the other side of the Second City would not upset his domestic situation.

In linking up with the Blues, Phillips becomes one of a handful of players who have appeared for all three clubs in the greater Birmingham area.

Tony Morley and Robert Hopkins are two others and Phillips, who scored a winner for Villa against Birmingham three years ago, will be hoping to appease Blues fans quickly once the new season gets underway.