Crewe Alex: Ng completes move to Cardiff for an 'undisclosed fee'

By Gwyn Griffiths

27th Aug 2021 | Local News

PERRY Ng has completed his transfer window move to Cardiff City.

The Bluebirds unveiled Ng in South Wales today after a deal was struck with Crewe over the weekend. The fee which takes the Alex's skipper to the Cardiff City Stadium is undisclosed, but boss Dave Artell, has described it as a "good deal for everyone".

The 24-year-old has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract with the Welsh outfit and could be involved in Cardiff's home Championship fixture with QPR tomorrow night (Wednesday).

Artell has paid tribute to the defender's application and work ethic which he credits for the Liverpudlian's progress to the point where he is ready to take on board the challenge of Championship football.

While Ng made his Crewe debut under Steve Davis, his progression has been under Artell's reign. During that time he has played his part in turning around the fortunes of a club that was charting choppy waters back in March 2016 when he made his first start against Burton.

Perhaps a hint of the maturity which was to later see him installed as club captain was on show that day.

Crewe were deep in relegation trouble, but Ng, then 19, offered hope when he spoke to the press afterwards, saying: "Hopefully, we can get a little run going now and we've got the teams above us to play so they will be huge games. I was told on Friday I was playing and I couldn't sleep. I've been at Crewe since I was six, so it's a dream come true."

He has pursued that dream with vigour and determination over the last four-and-a-half years, going on to make 183 appearances for the club.

While making the right-back berth his home in recent campaigns with gritty defensive qualities, he has had spells in his favoured the centre-half berth and occasionally in midfield.

While never a prolific scorer, the goals he has chipped in – seven in all - invariably fell into the eye-catching category and with both feet, starting off with his first in a September 2017 thrashing of Chesterfield.

After enduring a lengthy goal drought his thumping matchwinner against promotion rivals Cheltenham a year ago this week prompted a visit to the barbers. He had pledged to let his hair grow earlier in the season until he ended his barren spell.

But there have been no short cuts generally in Ng's development at Crewe. Hard work has been the key to his success and has ensured if there is one word to sum up his time at Gresty Road then it would be "consistency"; few could find fault with his displays over a long period of time and he has been the reliable performer that any club building foundations to take them higher crave.

The 2018/19 campaign finished with him claiming Crewe's player-of-the-season award, but the big prize was to lift the League Two runners-up trophy last July after captaining the club to automatic promotion.

He signed a three-year deal at Gresty Road back in 2018, but Crewe risked recouping not a single penny for their long-term investment as that contract was due to run out in the summer, when the defender will be 25.

But he will go to Cardiff with the club and the fans' blessings after four years of sterling work. The Bluebirds need a right-back, but they will be getting so much more than that.

As assistant manager Kenny Lunt said of him: "Every time Perry steps up, whether that's been for the under 18s or the first team, he always ends up being the best player."

BBC Radio Stoke's Alex co-commentator Peter Morse has watched Ng develop from a fresh-faced teenager to the club's stalwart captain.

He said: "From the age of eight Perry has grafted, fought and sacrificed to move up the ranks, soaking up expert coaching, honing his skills and proving people wrong along the way. Now he has left others behind, emerging as a tenacious and strong defender, a productive attacker and a leader by example.

"He has demonstrated what can be achieved when talent meets application and desire and his progress is the type of triumph the Alex Academy coaches value most.

"Crewe fans will now follow the career of another of their own with affection, safe in the knowledge Perry will dedicate himself to becoming a success in his new challenge."

Meanwhile, Neil Harris has revealed Cardiff have pursued Ng in previous transfer windows. He told WalesOnline in a press conference today: "Being able to get a right-back in has been the main aim. Perry is a player we have chased for so long in so many windows.

"This is probably the third window in which we have enquired about him so I am really pleased to get it done.

"We are getting a good character, a club captain of a side at 23. There is some leadership there at a young age. He is a boy who has played a lot of league football.

"There is a lot to work on with him and we must give him time to improve as a right-back at Championship level."

     

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