Derby County midfielder Max Bird has joined Sky Bet Championship side Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old will, however, spend the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign back on loan with Derby ahead of linking up with his new side in the summer.
Bird was due to be out of contract at the end of the current season and talks had taken place with the player and his representatives over recent months, which resulted in a new contract being offered.
After receiving an offer from Bristol City which matched the club’s valuation and allowed the player to see out the season with the Rams, as well as providing clarity for all parties, Bird was given permission to complete the formalities of the transfer.
The decision was made to progress with the deal as opposed to having to agree a potentially lesser compensation package in the summer or cross-border on a free transfer - and it allows Bird to remain as a member of Paul Warne’s squad over the remaining months of the season.
Academy graduate Bird has been a regular in the Derby midfield over the last few years and has recorded 191 appearances in total since making his debut back in 2017 at the age of 16.
He was named as the EFL’s Apprentice of the Year in 2019 ahead of establishing himself as a first-team player the following year.
He has also scored seven goals during that time, including a well-taken free kick in last weekend’s 2-1 home win over Cheltenham Town.