Cambridge United sign former Aston Villa and Birmingham City midfielder Gary Gardner on two-year contract

Cambridge United head coach Garry Monk has been reunited with Gary Gardner.

The midfielder has joined the U’s on a two-year contract following his release from Birmingham City – where he had previously worked under Monk.

Having risen through the ranks at rivals Aston Villa – making a total of 46 appearances in the process – Gardner joined the Blues on a permanent basis in the summer of 2019.

Overall he featured on 184 occasions in a Birmingham shirt, scoring 15 goals in the process.

But now the 32-year-old will be focused on the next stage of his career as he jets off to meet his new team-mate at Cambridge’s pre-season training camp in Portugal.

The former England Under-21 international said: “It’s a fresh start for me and I am really looking forward to getting started.

“Working with the manager again was a big thing for me. I know what he can get out of me and I know what he can do for the team.

“After speaking to him, Ben (Strang, sporting director) and Michael Morrison about the club, it seems like a really exciting time to be joining and I am looking forward to playing my part in that.”

Monk added: “Gary is a signing that has real pedigree and I am delighted to welcome him to the club.

“He brings excellent quality as a player but also as a character to add to the dressing room.

“He is a superb addition to the squad and will help us grow as a team over the coming season and beyond. I am really looking forward to working with him again.”

Gardner is United’s seventh signing of the summer following the arrivals of Taylor Richards, Ryan Loft, Vicente Reyes, Shayne Lavery, James Gibbons and Kell Watts.