Birmingham City keeper Jack Butland moves to Stoke City

 

Stoke City have signed England goalkeeper Jack Butland from Birmingham City for a fee rising to £3.5m, but will spend the rest of the season with the Championship side.

Blues were keen to sell the 19-year-old because of their financial problems.

Butland signed a four-and-a-half-year contract before being loaned straight back to St Andrew's.

"I've got unfinished business there and I want to help them this season. They have been very good to me," he said.

International young gun

Jack Butland became the youngest ever England international goalkeeper, when he played against Italy in August at the age of 19 years 158 days.

The previous youngest, Billy Moon, was 64 days older when he first played for England in 1888.

Butland had rejected talks with Chelsea over a £3.5m move because he wanted regular first-team football.

"It's been an incredible day - a very exciting one, but I'm glad it's finished," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I love playing and I don't want to sit on the bench. For me, it was important I went to a club where I can play and develop my game."

Butland has also been linked with a move to Liverpool, Fulham, Newcastle and Manchester City, while Southampton  and Everton  tried to sign him last summer.

The keeper played for Great Britain at the Olympics and made his England debut in the 2-1 win over Italy in August.

Butland was called up to the England squad for Euro 2012, after third-choice goalkeeper John Ruddy broke a finger, even though he had spent the season on loan at League Two side Cheltenham.