Blues sign Melchiot

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has completed his fourth summer signing with former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot joining the club on a Bosman free transfer.

The 27-year-old right-back joins Emile Heskey, Muzzy Izzet and Julian Gray in moving to St Andrews since the end of last season.

Now only Jesper Gronkjaer remains for Bruce to sign of the list he presented to the Birmingham board of directors in April.

Bruce has been tracking the services of Dutch international Melchiot for several months and a right-back has been a priority for the Birmingham boss.

Melchiot is expected to be paraded before the media at a press conference on Monday.

Bruce said: “I’m delighted that Mario has agreed to join us because he is a player that I have admired for a long time and have been keen to make him a part of our squad.

“He is a quality player with international pedigree and I’m sure he’ll be a big success at St Andrews.”

Birmingham chairman David Gold said: “It is great that Steve has got so many players in that he wanted to sign so quickly because they will now be able to bed in before the season gets under way.

“He gave us a list of players that he wanted to sign this summer and we are glad that he has been able to bring the majority of them in so soon.”