Bristol City have smashed their transfer record to sign

Crewe Alexandra hot-shot Nicky Maynard for £2.25 million.

The 21-year-old striker completed his move to Ashton Gate

yesterday, bringing to an end City's summer-long search for a

new front man.

Maynard signed a four-year contract after agreeing terms

with the Championship club.

City manager Gary Johnson will be delighted to have secured

the signing after deals for Egyptian Emad Meteb and Coventry

City striker Michael Mifsud both collapsed at the 11th

hour.

Maynard came through the ranks at Gresty Road and is the

latest hot prospect off a successful production line that has

yielded the likes of Danny Murphy and Dean Ashton.

After a prolific debut campaign in 2006-07, he broke his leg

on the opening game of last season but returned to bag 15 goals

and help Crewe avoid relegation.

Maynard said: “I'm so excited. It's a good move for me to

keep progressing in my career. I've had a look around the

stadium, spoken to some of the players and the manager. This

seems like the perfect place for me.

“The manager's told me how the club is very tight-knit, and

all the lads here are buzzing after their success last

season.

“Since winning promotion from League One, Bristol City

haven't looked back since. They did very well last season

getting to the play-off and were unlucky not to reach the

Premier League.

“Everyone is confident the team can go one step further this

season and, hopefully, I'll be able to help with that.

“I want to score as many goals as I can and help Bristol

City into the Premier League.”

City first declared their interest in Maynard in June, only

to be put off by Crewe's valuation of a player whose experience

is confined to League One. A bid for Maynard from Ipswich Town

was also rejected by the Cheshire club.

But Johnson went back in for the youngster after proposed

£1.5m moves for Meteb and Mifsud fell through last month.

The fee eclipses the £1.2m City paid to Gillingham for Ade

Akinbiyi in 1998.

Johnson is also in the market for an unnamed European-based

target man and remains confident his squad will be complete

ahead of the opening Championship fixture against Blackpool at

Bloomfield Road tomorrow week.

Maynard, who is Bristol City's second signing of pre-season

following the acquisition of Gavin Williams, is standing by to

make his debut in tonight's pre-season friendly against Royal

Antwerp at Ashton Gate.