Long-serving defender Nedum Onuoha has followed in former team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips' footsteps and joined Queens Park Rangers.

The Mark Hughes in the survival battle at Loftus Road. He has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with The Hoops.

A Blues ball-boy while growing up in east Manchester, he was a Platt Lane regular at ten, working his way up through the Academy to feature regularly for the reserves in the 2003/04 season.

Onuoha made his debut at 17 against Arsenal in the Carling Cup in October 2004. He took his Premier League bow as a substitute against Norwich a month later and signed his first contract.

There were 18 appearances in his debut season, and despite injuries during 2008/09 he struck up a partnership with Richard Dunne at the heart of defence and signed a new deal.

Nedum, who made his England Under-21 debut in October 2005, went on to figure in both the 2007 and 2009 European Under-21 Championship campaigns.

But he has found his City chances increasingly limited. He started only seven games during 2009/10 season, including a man-of-the-match scoring performance against Birmingham.

Onuoha spent last season on loan at Sunderland, where his 31 appearances were crowned by a memorable solo goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

He made his final appearance for City as a substitute in the 1-0 win at Wigan.

Nedum joins QPR with very best wishes for the future from everybody at the Club.

Nedum and Nigel celebrate