Birmingham City sign St Pat's ace

St Patrick’s Athletic midfielder Keith Fahey has signed a pre-contract agreement with Birmingham and will join the Coca-Cola Championship side on a three-and-a-half-year deal on January 2, 2009.

The 25-year-old began his career as a trainee at Arsenal before moving to Blues’ rivals Aston Villa where he made a solitary appearance in the Intertoto Cup and then returned to his native Republic of Ireland with Bluebell United.

The Dublin-born player then spent two seasons at St Patrick’s before moving to Drogheda United, a move which lasted only seven months before he returned to his former side.

Fahey was voted PFAI Premier Division Player of the Year for 2008 early last month.