Birmingham signing thought to be club record

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 (June 7) and Argentina (June 10).

The club are confident of acquiring a work permit for the striker as he has played in 86% of Ecuador’s competitive A grade games over the last two years - well above the required amount.