Birmingham midfielder Neil Danns has joined Championship promotion chasers Crystal Palace for an initial £600,000.

The 25-year-old player 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.

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

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

Meanwhile Palace defenders Mark Hudson and Danny Butterfield have been offered new contracts, with goalkeeper Julian Speroni the next in line.

Skipper Hudson, full-back Butterfield and in-form Argentinian keeper Speroni will all be out of contract in the summer and boss Neil Warnock is eager to keep them at Selhurst Park.

"We've made offers to Mark and Danny. We've offered them reasonable terms so it's now up to them," Warnock told the South London Press.

"I'll be having a chat with Julian's agent when he flies over next week."

Striker James Scowcroft triggered a 12-month extension to his contract in the 3-0 win at Wolves, his 25th appearance of the season.

TeamTalk / Eurosport