Youssef Safri has completed a switch to Championship rivals Southampton. The 30-year-old moves to St Mary's for an undisclosed sum and signs a two-year deal with George Burley's side.

Youssef Safri has completed a switch to Championship rivals Southampton.

The 30-year-old moves to St Mary's for an undisclosed sum and signs a two-year deal with George Burley's side.

Safri's move will come as little surprise to City fans after boss Peter Grant revealed the midfielder would never play for the club again after Tuesday's friendly defeat to West Ham.

Safri was fined and left out of the squad for the match after first missing morning training to collect an agent and then arriving late for the annual squad photo call.

The two incidents were the final straws for Grant, who said there was "no way back" for Safri after being "disrespectful" to his team mates.

Safri made 90 appearances for the Canaries after joining them for £500,000 from Coventry City in the summer of 2004, scoring four times.

Boss Grant told the club's official website: "I'm glad the situation has been resolved quickly. Saf has wanted to leave Carrow Road since my second day in the job and he's now finally got his wish."

Southampton manager George Burley was delighted to secure the signature of the Moroccan international saying on the Saints' official website: "I'm very pleased that we've signed Youssef as he's a player that I've admired for a long time. He's a good passer of the ball and a decent play maker in midfield.

"He's an experienced player having played for Coventry and Norwich. He's also an international, so all in all he's a very valuable addition to the squad."

Burley added: "He's not bad at set plays either so there are a lot of aspects to Safri's game."