Boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that former Wolves central defender Christophe Berra has joined the Blues on a two-year deal. Berra, who we understand put pen to paper on his contract on Friday evening, was with the Town squad during today’s 1-0 victory at Barnet.

McCarthy confirmed that after a couple of weeks of speculation the deal was done: “We’ve signed him. I’m delighted with that one it’s a fantastic signing.

"He helped get us promoted at Wolves and helped keep us in the league for two seasons and I’m amazed actually that it’s gone so long and he hasn’t got a club. I’m delighted, it’s terrific for us.”

The Blues boss confirmed that although Titus Bramble is welcome to continue training at Playford Road, he won’t be taking things any further: “Titus had other options and like all of us, we’re all spinning plates a little bit. He’s doing it himself. I explained to him in the week that I can’t just wait indefinitely to sign him and he understood that.

“I also understood if he disappeared and wanted to sign for somebody else. It’s fairly uncomplicated - I’ve signed Christophe and it ain’t happening.

McCarthy has also ended his interest in Tottenham’s South African centre-half Bongani Khumalo, who played at Crawley and Gillingham: “He was terrific but he’s a loan player and I’ve signed a really good, I’d say top Championship centre-half that’s our player, an Ipswich player for two years. It’s a complete and utter no-brainer to do that as opposed to have a player on loan.

“I was really sorry for Bongani, I had to apologise to him, but as I explained to him, if Stoke or West Brom had come in for him he would have done one because he’d have had a better deal.

“And it is for us and I have to look after the club. Loan deals with a call-back clause in January are not for me and I know Christophe, he’s terrific.”

Ex-Arsenal youngster Conor Henderson is understood to be training with the Blues in the week to come but McCarthy says no deal is yet done to sign the midfielder: “We spoke to him in the summer and we’ll see whether that happens.”

The Town boss said he has had no interest in any members of his squad.

Photo: Action Images

h32 added 14:10 - Jul 21 ..... a quality signing, by a quality manager - just hope this Club can hold onto him. ME - take note - and do what's necessary to KEEP him here - MM joining us was the best thing that has happened to this Club in years . A proper Manager - absolutely right for this Club.
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h32 added 16:04 - Jul 21 Warktheline - HONEST, REALISTIC and SPOKEN AS SEEN - that's me. PLEASE or OFFEND - that's how it has to be.
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runningout added 16:36 - Jul 21 Can we have some realism now please.. optimism good, just too much can turn round and bite you
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cyprustractorboy added 16:49 - Jul 21 Such a promising summer of signings really does make the feal good factor and a belief that we can get back to where we belong ive had enough of the budgies crowing COYB
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BiggestMick added 18:04 - Jul 21 Does anyone know if there are any tickets availible for the Col U game ?!
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WarkOn added 18:35 - Jul 21 Somewhat concerned at Wolves fans' relief at seeing the back of Berra - "the most uncomfortable player on the ball I have ever seen..." " don 't know how he's mad a living as a professional footballer" etc . Hope MM is not overselling him just got he had no money to spend and saw Berra was free... Instinct says Berra might be ok-ish as back-up but no more. Be interesting to see.

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h32 added 18:43 - Jul 21 WarkOn - ....... I think it's fair to say that MM should be a better judge of a player than certain fans / supporters / followers. Some of the posts on here would indicate that ........... without any doubt !!. After all - everyone to their opinion (however weird ).
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IITFC1948 added 19:12 - Jul 21 h32 How I agree with you,remember that Grant Leadbitter or was It leadboots, anyway the one who a lot on here called a waste of space and worse,the one who was Middlesbroughs fans player of the season.the one both Nottingham forest and Blackburn will go to£1.5 million to get him, the one Mowbray is hoping is going to stay,yes your right a lot of fans have not a clue
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TimmyH added 19:47 - Jul 21 C'mon let's face it Leadboots only started playing when he wanted his contract renewing, a lot of the time he did very little - Fact!
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eaii added 19:47 - Jul 21 "It's a complete and utter no-brainer to do that as opposed to have a player on loan." Shame bellends Clegg and Jewell never had this ideology!
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Keaneish added 20:30 - Jul 21 IITFC1948 - the same leadboots who finished in a boro side several positions below us in the league!! The same leadboots who scored...once last season was it? The same leadboots whose boro side couldn't score enough goals, leaked goals at the bag and had a terrible away record... Sounds very similar to the same leadboots and his time in a town shirt to me!!
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warktheline added 20:53 - Jul 21 H32,well said on your quality text,the difference is though, some of us have been banging on about MM quality a long time ago.If you look back at your remarks, you may just notice, that you hammered people like me to dare mention it."Daydreamer",i think not.
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h32 added 21:21 - Jul 21 Warktheline - ..... shame you don't get your facts right before posting - I suggest you CHECK back to my very first post ref MM and you will see that I have been pro MM all the way - and will continue to be. Reading, and understanding what's read, is a good starting point. The man who needs to appreciate MM most right now is Marcus Evans & Co - and release the purse strings a tad - IF NECESSARY.

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h32 added 21:41 - Jul 21 ...... and may I remind a few of you that 'yes - you were 'Daydreaming' when you kept finding pathetic excuses (and supporting) the previous Manager' - Jewell should have left this Club long before he did - he was never going to be successful. And - Walktheline - I continuously said so from his initial appointment.
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warktheline added 21:44 - Jul 21 H32,would be very interesting to read your continued negative post since MM reign.ZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.
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h32 added 21:50 - Jul 21 ....... truth hurts I guess - just give it a rest - or make sense.
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wairey added 22:21 - Jul 21 another brilliant signing but who who you pick as the back four against reading? -Cresswell, Smith, Chambers, Hewitt- or do you bring in berra? at least there's depth now! COYB :)
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itfc_4ever added 22:25 - Jul 21 Who is gonna loose there place my guess is chambers but I hope not we will miss out on the fist pump
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