May
Newsfile

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Report from www.nationwide.co.uk
Cardiff City have made their second big signing in the last 24 hours by buying Stoke City midfielder Graham Kavanagh for just under £1million.

The deal follows Thursday's signing of Manchester City defender Spencer Prior for £700,000.

The 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international becomes Cardiff boss Alan Cork's fifth signing of the summer and he hopes to make Liverpool's Layton Maxwell his sixth next week.

Kavanagh moved from Home Farm to Middlesbrough in 1991 and also had a short loan spell at Darlington before moving to Stoke City in September 1996.

He played more than 200 League games for Stoke, scoring 33 goals, and has won three international caps.

Kavanagh was also wanted by Wolves, West Brom, Wimbledon and Gillingham.

"Cardiff was the only club I would have left Stoke to join. I really think that they have a better chance of promotion than my old team," said Kavanagh.

"I believe Wimbledon, Gillingham, West Brom and Barnsley were also interested in me, but Wales and its passionate nation was the big pull.

"The Welsh and the Irish have so much in common and have battled against tremendous hardship on occasions. I am so impressed with Sam Hamman's drive for success and his quest to establish Cardiff amongst the best soccer teams in England.

"I've spent 11 happy years in England but this is an identity thing and I'm ready to help the Cardiff fans achieve their dreams.

"The Welsh capital is a beautiful place and deserves much more than second division soccer."

Both Hamman and City boss Alan Cork struggled to conceal their delight in capturing a man many pundits compare to Manchester United's skipper Roy Keane.

"I think the signing of Graham and Spencer Prior yesterday is sending out a real message of ambition," said Hamman.

"Like Spencer, I'm looking for Graham to bring out the best and develop our youngsters.

"He's got a massive job ahead, but I'm certain that he's up to it."

And ex-Wimbledon hero Cork was beaming too. "Graham's arrival is the result of a lot of hard work over the last five weeks," he said.

"It's yet another quality signing for the football club - I think that he'll really improve us."

Report from www.footymad.co.uk
Cardiff have today completed the signing of Stoke midfielder Graham Kavanagh for a club record £1million.

Kavanagh put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Ninian Park after undergoing a medical at the club last night.

The Republic of Ireland international cut short a holiday in Ireland to fly into Cardiff for tests before signing the deal.

The Bluebirds unveiled Kavanagh at a press conference this afternoon after the Stoke board accepted an offer from Cardiff owner Sam Hamman for the player earlier this week.

The 27-year-old cost Stoke around £500,000 when he was signed from Middlesbrough in September 1996 and made over 200 appearances as well as winning full international caps at the club.

Director of football John Rudge said: "We wish Graham all the best. We would have preferred him not to leave, and we made that clear by trying to negotiate a new contract with him in the second half of last season. But he was adamant he would not sign.

"He had only one year of his existing contract to run, so next summer we could have lost him for nothing. From that point of view the deal is a very good one for this club, although we are obviously disappointed at losing a quality player."

Report from www.bbc.co.uk
Cardiff City have completed the signing of midfielder Graham Kavanagh from Stoke.

The Irish international, 27, was put on the transfer list at the Britannia Stadium after refusing to sign a new contract.

His move to Cardiff is the first time the Welsh club have signed a player for £1m and eclipses the £800,000 paid to West Brom for Danny Gabbidon last season.

Kavanagh is the fifth player to move to Ninian Park this summer - just a day after the Bluebirds paid Manchester City £700,000 for Spencer Prior.

The Irishman has three international caps and scored nine goals in 53 starts for Stoke last season.

But there is some dispute over the size of his transfer fee.

Report from www.leaguematters.com
Cardiff have clinched the signing of Republic of Ireland midfielder Graham Kavanagh from Stoke. Kavanagh becomes the Bluebirds’ first ever £1 million player and signal the Welsh side’s ambition to challenge for promotion from Division 2 at the first attempt next season.

Central midfielder Kavanagh, 27, will give more creativity and attacking impetus to the Bluebirds’ midfield and should certainly compensate for them missing out on Luton midfielder Paul McLaren. Coming only a day after their previous club record buy of Spencer Prior, the Bluebirds are now Division 2’s biggest spenders of the summer and rapidly becoming promotion contenders. Both Prior and Kavanagh will be able to slot into whichever formation (3-5-2 or 4-4-2) boss Alan Cork decides upon.

Kavanagh scored 44 times in 241 appearances for the Potters since his £500,000 buy from Middlesbrough in October 1996. Widely regarded as one of the Second Division’s most complete midfielders, he was named in the PFA Division 2 select side for the second season in succession and his performances last season earned him a recall to the Ireland squad. However, Kavanagh said that Stoke’s failure to secure a return to Division 1 has hindered his international opportunities and stated his desire to play First Division football as his reason for rejected a new deal. That he moved to another Division 2 side suggest both that he was unhappy at Stoke and that no team in Division 1 was prepared to meet the Potters’ asking price (only Gillingham expressed interest). For Cardiff, however, the signing of one of the leading players from a probable rival in the promotion race next season represents something of a coup.

The players most affected by Kavanagh’s signing could be Matthew Brazier, Willie Boland and Kevin Evans, who all started around half the Bluebirds’ league games. That Cork has shown interest in McLaren and previously Carlton Palmer suggests he is also looking for a more defensive central midfielder.

Report from www.stokecityfc.com
GRAHAM Kavanagh completed his move to Second Division rivals Cardiff City today, paving the way for more new faces at the Britannia Stadium.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder became Cardiff’s record signing at just under £1million after completing a medical following successful contract talks.

His departure brings to an end a five-year career at Stoke, during which time he made 200 league appearances, scoring 32 goals, after his £500,000 transfer from Middlesbrough in September 1996.

Said Director of Football John Rudge: “We wish Graham all the best. We would have preferred him not to leave, and we made that clear by trying to negotiate a new contract with him in the second-half of last season. But he was adamant he would not sign.

“He had only one year of his existing contract to run, so next summer we could have lost him for nothing. From that point of view the deal is a very good one for this club, although we are obviously disappointed at losing a quality player.”

Kavanagh’s move gives manager Gudjon Thordarson room to manoeuvre in the transfer market.

Report from www.skysports.com
Cardiff City have agreed terms with Graham Kavanagh, the Stoke City midfielder, who has become the first £1m signing in their history.

The fee tops the £800,000 the Bluebirds paid West Brom for defender Daniel Gabbidon last summer and the £700,000 which secured the services of Spencer Prior on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international would have been out of contract at the Britannia Stadium at the end of next season and the Potters opted to cash in after he made it clear that he intended to leave.

Kavanagh initially said he wanted to play at a higher level to improve his international prospects but has been persuaded of Cardiff's ambition by owner Sam Hammam.