The Scottish champions accepted a £1.25m bid from the Barclays Premier League outfit as Blues manager Alex McLeish stepped up his long-standing interest in the former Scotland captain.

And the 31-year-old duly completed the move, signing a three-year contract to return to England for the first time since an injury-plagued spell at Blackburn Rovers.

Ferguson joins compatriots McLeish, Garry O'Connor and James McFadden at St Andrews.

McLeish managed Ferguson during his time with Scotland and Rangers and believes the midfielder still has much to offer.

his peak

"For me, Barry is a midfielder at his peak," he told the club's website. "I don't think 31 is too old for a central midfielder of great experience.

"Players like Gordon Strachan and Gary McAllister continued playing into their late 30s and these were guys who were not afraid of the ball.

"I think Barry can play on for a good few years yet. He's a guy that always turned up for work. By that I mean that his appearances over the years have always been fantastic.

"Barry has got the culture of the true-grit Brit, who will go through brick walls to play football. He has a winning mentality, and that is proven by all the winners' medals he has won."

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