BIRMINGHAM manager Trevor Francis yesterday signed striker Paul Furlong from Chelsea in a club-record £1.5 million deal. Furlong, who has agreed a four-year contract, found himself surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge after the Premiership side brought in Gianluca Vialli.

Francis has revamped Birmingham since taking over from Barry Fry. He has recruited Steve Bruce on a free transfer from Manchester United as well as signing the Everton pair Barry Horne and Gary Ablett.

Birmingham's previous record fee was around £800,000 which they twice paid for Kevin Francis and Ricky Otto.

Furlong, who came into League football at the age of 22 when Coventry signed him from Enfield for £130,000 in July 1991, made his name with Watford. They paid out £250,000 for his services in July 1992 and he responded with 41 goals in 92 games before a £2.3 million move to Chelsea in May 1994. In his first season for the London club, he netted 13 goals, five of them in the European Cup Winners' Cup.