Birmingham sign Basingstoke football ace

4:45pm Tuesday 16th January 2007

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ROWAN Vine is aiming to help shoot Birmingham City back into the Premiership after completing a dream move to Steve Bruce's Championship pace-setters.

The 24-year-old Basingstoke football ace signed for league-leaders Birmingham after Luton Town accepted a revised £2.5million offer for the striker. The fee will rise to £3m if the Blues are promoted to the Premiership.

This was exactly the move I wanted – it’s as close to the Premiership as I could be. I’m delighted

Rowan Vine

Vine - who has scored 14 goals this season for Luton - has signed a three-and-a half-year deal and said: "This was exactly the move I wanted - it's as close to the Premiership as I could be. I'm delighted."

Birmingham manager Bruce was keen to strengthen his forward line with Nicklas Bendtner and Cameron Jerome on the injury list.

And Vine, who has been given the number 19 shirt, said he did not need much persuading to join once he learned the Blues coveted his signature.

"I see it as a massive compliment that a team like Birmingham, who are top of the league, wanted to sign me," he said.

Vine has scored four goals in the last five games, including one against Birmingham in a 2-2 draw on December 29.

His display that night gave Bruce, who has been a long-time admirer of Vine, a stark reminder of the player's talents.

Vine, whose family home is in Basingstoke, paid tribute to his former club, who signed him for £250,000 from Portsmouth in July 2005.

He said: "They're a great bunch down there and Mike Newell is a good manager. I had two-and-a-half brilliant years at Luton and made a lot of friends, so I'm sad to be leaving. But the pros of leaving really outweigh the cons."

Cup-tied Vine will still travel to St James' Park with his new team-mates to watch their FA Cup third round replay against Newcastle on Wednesday, January 17. The winners of that game will be at home to Reading in round four.