Birmingham have beaten off competition from top European clubs to sign Ecuador striker Christian Benitez from Mexican side Santos Laguna.
The Blues confirmed a fee - thought to be a club record - had been agreed for the 23-year-old, who will travel to England for a medical next week having agreed personal terms.
Although the fee is undisclosed it is set to surpass the £6.25m paid for Emile Heskey in 2004 and is reported to be in the region of £9m.
Benitez - son of the Ecuador's all-time leading goalscorer, Ermen - starred in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and has scored 31 goals in 58 games in Mexico's Primera Division over the last two campaigns.
He recently underwent surgery on a shoulder injury and is unlikely to be involved when Ecuador play World Cup qualifiers against Peru (7 June) and Argentina (10 June).
The club are confident of acquiring a work permit for the striker as he has played in 865 of Ecuador's competitive A grade games over the last two years - well above the required amount.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments