Ridgewell crosses the divide from Villa to Blues

Birmingham City have signed the defender Liam Ridgewell from Aston Villa for £2 million, the first player to move directly between the two clubs for more than 20 years.

The 23-year-old completed his move to St Andrew's on 3 August, ahead of Blues' return to the Premier League. He is the first player to switch between the rivals since Des Bremner joined Blues from Villa in 1984.

A rare move

Transfers between Villa and Blues are almost unheard of, because of the fierce rivalry between the clubs and their fans. Players who cross the divide can expect a hostile reception from their old supporters, and have to work hard to win over their new ones.

Ridgewell came through the youth ranks at Villa and has played at centre-back and left-back, but has not been a regular under Martin O'Neill. He is expected to play a bigger role at Blues, where manager Steve Bruce has been looking for defensive cover for the new season.

Back in the big time

Blues won promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt last season, finishing second in the Championship behind Sunderland. They won 26 league games, a club record, and made sure of promotion when Crystal Palace beat Derby County at the end of April.

Bruce has been busy strengthening his squad this summer. The club knows how hard it will be to stay up, having been relegated from the top flight in 2006 after four seasons.

The new season kicks off this month, and Blues will have their first chance to face Villa in the league since the Easter derby in April 2006, when Villa won 3-1 at Villa Park.

Changes behind the scenes

Blues have also been at the centre of takeover talk this summer. The Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung has bought a large stake in the club, and there has been speculation that he could make a bid to take full control from the current owners, David Gold and David Sullivan.

Gold and Sullivan, who bought the club in 1993, have said they will listen to offers that are in the best interests of the club. For now, they remain in charge and have backed Bruce in the transfer market.

What the fans say

Reaction to the signing has been mixed. Some Blues fans are uneasy about signing a former Villa player, while others point out that Ridgewell is a promising defender who could improve the team. At Villa, some supporters are unhappy to see a young player from the club's own ranks join their neighbours.

If Ridgewell plays well, the fans are likely to accept him quickly. If Blues win the derby, he may even become a hero.