Source: Telegraph
Joe Hart joins Birmingham City from Manchester City on seasonlong loan
The England Under-21 goalkeeper has been seeking first-team football since being squeezed out at Eastlands by the arrival of Shay Given in January.
City signed Stuart Taylor from Aston Villa on Tuesday, providing the cover they needed to let Hart go.
The 22-year-old, who is on international duty with the Under-21s at the European Championships, has one senior cap and wants to be playing regularly in the build-up to the World Cup, having lost his place in Fabio Capello's squad since dropping down the City pecking order.
Hart has made 33 starts for City and showed great potential, something boss Mark Hughes now hopes he can build on with another season's experience.
"I have always said that Joe is a really good young keeper, and his talent was obvious to (goalkeeping coach) Kevin Hitchcock and I from the outset," Hughes said.
"His contribution to the team prior to Shay Given's arrival was fantastic, but by loaning him to Birmingham, he will add invaluable experience to that already gained here at City.
"I know he will relish the prospect of regular Premier League action, which is vital at this stage in his career."
Hart, who joined City from Shrewsbury in 2006, has admitted that it has been frustrating to sit on the sidelines after a taste of being the number one.
"It has been tough. It's frustrating, but there's only one person can play in goal and Shay's doing that at the moment," he said. "I've had to deal with it the best I can. It's not been ideal, but it's not the end of the world."
Birmingham have also signed Ecuador defender Giovanny Espinoza and agreed a fee with Cardiff City for centre-back Roger Johnson .
Espinoza, 32, has been capped more than 80 times for his country and joins from Ecuadorian side Barcelona Sporting Club. He had a spell with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem two seasons ago and has signed a two-year contract at St Andrew's.
Cardiff have accepted Birmingham's offer of £5 million for former Wycombe defender Johnson, and the highly-rated 26-year-old will now discuss terms with the club.
