West Brom's Craig Gardner 'buzzing to be back home in the Midlands'

Gardner put pen to paper on a three-year Hawthorns contract with a one-year option after passing a medical yesterday and will join the club officially on July 1.

And the 27-year-old, who was released by Sunderland following three years on Wearside, reckons returning his native West Midlands will see him shine for the Baggies.

"It's a pleasure to be here," said the Brummie. "It's a great club. I've got a lot of friends here and I'm just buzzing that I'm back at home in the Midlands where I enjoy my football the most and feel I play my best football.

"I was linked with West Brom previously and I was just praying it happened this time. Now eventually it has I'm over the moon.

"People say you have to be happy at home to be happy in your job - and when you've got your friends and family around you encouraging and supporting you then that's when you'll play your best football."

Gardner became Albion's first signing of the summer just four days after the club kicked off a major summer revamp by releasing five players in addition to the five loanees who have returned to their parent clubs.

And the 2011 Carling Cup winners says former Blues team-mates Liam Ridgewell, who was among those released, and Ben Foster helped ease through his move to The Hawthorns along with the chance to link up again with former Black Cats team-mate Stephane Sessegnon.

"Fozzy is a good friend and it's the same with Ridgy as well," said Gardner.

"They've always said good things about the club. But they didn't need to sell it to me because I was already taken. It's a great place.

"Sess is a top player. I'm looking forward to playing with him again."