Read more about Birmingham City.
Birmingham sign international striker
Birmingham City, 16:38, June 3, 2009 ,
Birmingham have completed the club record signing of Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez on a three-year deal from Santos Laguna.
Blues managed to beat off competition from a number of top European clubs to complete the signing of the 23-year-old frontman who has joined for an undisclosed fee which is believed to be around £9million.
Benitez will now travel to England next week for a medical having agreed personal terms with Birmingham, who look to have landed one of the hottest talents in world football.
The Ecuador international first came to light during the 2006 World Cup in Germany and has gone on to make a big impact in the Mexican Primera Division, scoring 31 goals in 58 games for Santos Laguna.
Benitez recently underwent shoulder surgery and will play no part in his countries' next World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Argentina on June 7 and 10.