Stockdale chooses Birmingham over Premier League newcomer Brighton

David Stockdale moved on a free transfer to Birmingham City on Tuesday after ignoring Premier League-bound Brighton & Hove Albion's efforts to keep him in Sussex.

The goalkeeper, 31, missed just one league match in the Seagulls' successful bid for promotion last season, but instead of playing in the top flight for the first time since 2014, he becomes Harry Redknapp's first signing for the Blues.

Birmingham finished the 2016-17 campaign in 19th place of the Championship, but Stockdale shifted amid rumours that Brighton is nearing a capture of Valencia's Australian shot-stopper Mathew Ryan.

Stockdale was named in both the PFA Championship Team of the Year and EFL Championship 2016-17 Team of the Season, and will likely usurp veteran Tomasz Kuszczak as the first name on Birmingham's team sheet.