Figueroa leaves St Andrews

Birmingham have cancelled the contract of striker Luciano Figueroa by mutual consent.

The Argentinian joined City in the summer for £2.5m (€3.6m) but will now join Mexican side Cruz Azul for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old made just one Premiership appearance for Steve Bruce’s side, coming on for the final three minutes of the 2-0 win over Portsmouth in September.

Figueroa joined from Rosario Central in the summer on a four-year contract having scored 17 goals in 19 games in the opening half of the Argentinian championship.

The player was at the centre of a registration row with Osasuna less than a month after completing his move to the Blues.

The Spanish side claimed they had agreed a deal with Figueroa first but FIFA ruled on August 20 that Birmingham could continue to field him while his transfer was investigated.

Manager Steve Bruce gave Figueroa time to adapt and rest but the South American could not force his way into the first-team reckoning despite his hefty price tag.

The club say they have not paid Figueroa any kind of final settlement, but did not indicate whether the fee received from Cruz Azul was anything close to the £2.5m (€3.6m) originally paid.