Cardiff City have completed the signing of midfielder Graham Kavanagh from Stoke.

The Irish international, 27, was put on the transfer list at the Britannia Stadium after refusing to sign a new contract.

His move to Cardiff is the first time the Welsh club have signed a player for £1m and eclipses the £800,000 paid to West Brom for Danny Gabbidon last season.

"The big pull was (the manager) Alan Cork and (owner) Sam Hammam," Kavanagh said. "Both asked me if I wanted to join the dream.

"A lot of people can say that but to actually back it up the way they can is a different story.

"The enthusiasm of both of them and the whole city itself, it was a situation whereby I might have one more season in the Second Division but then we could be playing a lot of years in the First Division - and then challenging for the Premier League."

Kavanagh is the fifth player to move to Ninian Park this summer - just a day after the Bluebirds paid Manchester City £700,000 for Spencer Prior.

The Irishman has three international caps and scored nine goals in 53 starts for Stoke last season.

But there is some disagreement over the size of his transfer fee. Stoke's official website says the deal is worth just under £1m.