Birmingham seal deal for Serbia striker Zigic

Birmingham completed the signing of Serbia striker Nikola Zigic from Valencia for a fee of around six million pounds (8.6 million dollars) on Wednesday.

Zigic agreed a four-year contract with the Premier League club after passing a medical and will return to St Andrew’s after playing for his country at the World Cup.

“Blues have pulled off a major transfer coup by signing towering Serbia international Nikola Zigic on a four-year deal,” a statement on the club’s website confirmed.

The 29-year-old, who is 6ft 8ins tall, had a disappointing spell at Valencia after making his name with prolific stints at Red Star Belgrade and Racing Santander.

He was Serbia’s player of the year in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and has scored 16 goals in 42 appearances for the national team.

He is Birmingham’s second major capture since the end of the season following the six-million-pound swoop for goalkeeper Ben Foster from Manchester United.

Blues boss Alex McLeish, who also signed Spanish midfielder Enric Valles on a free transfer earlier this month, is being backed by Carson Yeung, the club’s Hong Kong-based owner, and is believed to be keen to make several more high-profile buys as he tries to turn Birmingham into a force in the English top-flight.