Leeds United have confirmed the signing of defender Alex Bruce on a two-year contract with an option of a third season. The clubs agreed a fee of £200,000 rising to £300,000 on appearances earlier in the week, Bruce having previously been close to joining Sheffield United.

Whites boss Simon Grayson said: "Alex is going to be a good member of the squad. He can play at centre-back, right-back and as a holding midfielder.

"We felt we were short in those areas at this moment and we're delighted he's come. He's got a lot of experience, he's played in the Championship and the Premiership and he's what we want - a player who knows the division, is hungry and wants to be successful."

Grayson says he first targeted the Republic of Ireland international last year: "We tried to sign him a year ago when we were in League One.

"Ipswich wouldn't let him go, then we got a call a week ago to say he was available, and everything got agreed."

Bruce confirmed that he had been close to joining Sheffield United last week: "I went to Sheffield to see them last weekend. Then I got a phone call telling me about Leeds' interest and my mind was all on coming here.

"A fee had to be agreed with Ipswich, but once that was all done. Everyone knows the kind of club this is. It's a huge club with a massive fanbase and a great support. It's a good ambition of mine to help this club get promoted again."

Bruce spent four years at Portman Road, making 123 starts and four sub appearances, scoring three goals.

Photo: Action Images

sixtouchfootball added 17:18 - Jul 30 Still only going to be a squad player then! Best of luck anyway. Bruce and Naylor centre back pairing! Hhhhmmmm!
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brian_a_mul added 17:18 - Jul 30 Yeah, is Westlake still there?
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FriskinPriskin1 added 17:21 - Jul 30 Yeeeeeesssssss. I'll get the engine running!
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Mark added 17:21 - Jul 30 "Got a call a week ago?". Surely Bruce has been available for ages. Anyway, good luck to him. What's that now, 10 players out and 2 on their way out, with only 2 coming in? Signings please!!
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joeippy01 added 17:28 - Jul 30 westlake left ages ago
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tommyboy added 17:29 - Jul 30 Kisnobro is our main center back and i reckon they would make a good pair. If Bruce does well naylor wont get a look in.
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Karlosfandangal added 17:29 - Jul 30 Good luck Bruce So Stead wont sign for Bristol City but David James will, strange!
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RetroBlue added 17:29 - Jul 30 Glad to see the back of this utterly ordinary player , who even on his better days was an equally utter liability.
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joeippy01 added 17:32 - Jul 30 leeds are definatly going to be strong next season, think we are going to struggle in this league :(
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SiBo added 17:42 - Jul 30 Joeippy01: What? leeds have Naylor (I loved him, but he wasn't very good) and Bruce as centre halves and you think they are going to be strong this year? Oh and their best striker has deserted them and joined Everton... You really do need to see a doctor mate.
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SiBo added 17:44 - Jul 30 Brian a mul: Oh and westlake now plays for Whickham Wanderers... After going to Cheltenham from Leeds.
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jas0999 added 17:52 - Jul 30 Good luck Alex, but reading between the lines he will only be a back up at Leeds as well! Good move though for all concerned. Can only assume Roy has a centre half lined up?
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olimar added 17:58 - Jul 30 Love the manager-speak from Grayson. Bruce has become a player who can play right-back, holding midfield and centreback, having also played in the premiership. The fact is that he wasnt deemed good enough for the premiership (which isnt entirely positive experience, as even Bruce would probably admit), He played holding midfielder for about his first 3 games at Town before we moved him out in favour of a more suitable player, he was never a very good right-back. Which leaves centreback, and we dont think hes good enough for our team at centreback either. Good luck to him, love his attitude to the game, he seems a good lad.

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SiBo added 18:21 - Jul 30 joeippy: I did read the posts above and it stated that Kisnobro is their main centre half... not Naylor... and a quick look tells me that Naylor played 32 games last year and Kisnobro 34, the difference being Naylor didn't play in the 2 League cup games... So actually it appears that the poster is wrong and Naylor is as much their main Centre half as Kisnobro... add in the fact we all know Naylor's ability level and more importantly we know Bruce's ability level (I am assuming here that you watch ITFC play) and your statement that now they have signed Bruce they are going to be a strong team, just made me laugh... hence my tongue in cheek post… which from your later post seems to have upset you somewhat. I do apologise, there was no offence intended.

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GeorgiDoundarov added 18:21 - Jul 30 This is good! Finally somebody from the listed to go and to receive some money too. I think this is a great transfer for good money. But I believe he will be also the last to go. I don't see Garvan accepting Palace's terms... and that's not good
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Blueboy added 18:43 - Jul 30 let's not forget that good old Roy gave Alex a contract when Jim decided he was not worthy. Roy Keane has made us £200/£300K for a very average footballer who had the good fortune of having an Ex Man United defender as a father. If it wasn't for this I don't think anyone would look twice at him. Anyway good luck Alex you are making decent living for being distinctly average!!

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dobbie73 added 19:07 - Jul 30 Good luck Brrrrroooossssss! While maybe not the most skilful of players, there was no doubting your take-no-prisoners attitude on the pitch. Apart from when we play Leeds, I hope your move works out well for you. Love the added spice of Bruce favouring Leeds over their deadly rivals Sheffield Utd (although I am not sure how much influence he had over that choice). Could cause a few fireworks when they play each other next season! So if Keano has acquiesced and let Bruce go, does that mean we have another defender coming in, or was the Kennedy signing the catalyst for this? COYB!!

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Bluetone added 19:23 - Jul 30 To paraphrase RetroBlue I'll be glad to see the back of this utterly ordinary manager , who even on his better days is an equally utter liability.
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legoman added 20:00 - Jul 30 I cant believe our cheek and luck.
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ChambersM added 20:01 - Jul 30 What a f****** joke!
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ChambersM added 20:06 - Jul 30 What a f****** joke!
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arc123 added 20:09 - Jul 30 Seeya you dirty little greedy bugger. From what I've seen wriiten about him,especially on cardiff forums, Mark Kennedy should be a candidate for the captaincy. Apparently carries himself inpeccably both on and off the pitch,and how he helped Waghorn after missing the penalty in the play offs speaks volumes abou the man.
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Holdsteady added 20:15 - Jul 30 All the best Brucey, Good luck at the new club.
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PeekFreans added 20:36 - Jul 30 He'll probably do well. But Leeds any sort of force in the Championship? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Anyway, we'll finish 5th.
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ChambersM added 20:53 - Jul 30 Peek freans I presume the end of your post was unfinished, I guess 'from bottom' was the bit to get cut off for some reason?
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