West Brom complete Liam Ridgewell signing

Albion have completed the signing of Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell for a fee of around £1.5m, writes Steve Madeley.

The 27-year-old this afternoon completed a medical and penned a two-and-a-half-year deal with a further year's option in the Baggies' favour.

The clubs agreed a fee this morning after breaking the lengthy deadlock during late-night negotiations yesterday.

Hawthorns head coach Roy Hodgson said: "It's good to have him here.

"He's been a transfer target in the summer and a transfer target since the start of this January window but the negotiations have been quite long and arduous, which is often the case.

"He's a very experienced player, he's left-sided, which is very useful to us, and he has the added advantage that he's experienced in two positions – left-back and left centre-back.

"He's also used to playing in teams under pressure to get results. We're hoping we won't be under that much pressure but if we were it's nice to have someone who has been there before and knows what it's all about."

Hodgson has meanwhile dismissed reports this afternoon of a late bid from Fulham for Peter Odemwingie.

The Nigeria international is set to play for the Baggies at Craven Cottage tomorrow but Hodgson insisted he is not joining the Cottagers.

"He's a valuable player and a player we want to keep," said Hodgson.

"Our aim in this window was to bring in a player to make us stronger and there has never been any suggestion that the club needed to sell a player or would welcome selling on.

"The story has no basis in fact.

"He's not for sale and we've had no enquiries either."

Hodgson did not rule out further signings before tonight's 11pm deadline.

Meanwhile, Ridgewell's arrival and the return to training of Steven Reid and Billy Jones after injury look set to mean Gonzalo Jara Reyes and Joe Mattock joining Brighton on loan.