Birmingham midfielder Neil Danns has joined Championship promotion chasers Crystal Palace for an initial £600,000.The 25-year-old moved to City from Colchester in the summer of 2006 but has struggled to hold down a first-team place and made only 16 starts.

Danns has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Eagles and the eventual fee could rise to £850,000 based on add-ons.

His final appearance for Blues was in the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City in October.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish had made it clear that Danns and central defender Martin Taylor were surplus to requirements.

McLeish said: "We would like to bring other players in and that's going to hold certain players back.

"Neil is a guy who, at this stage of his career, should be getting first-team football and we wish him all the best."

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