Birmingham City have finalised a deal that will see Valencia striker Nikola Zigic move to St. Andrews once the World Cup culminates in July, after the player completed a medical at the club yesterday.
Zigic has signed a four-year deal with the West Midlands club for an undisclosed fee – believed to be around £6 million.
The giant target man, who stands at 6’8” tall, burst on to the scene with Serbian side Red Star in 2003, where his prolific goal scoring exploits (71 goals in 110 appearances) earned him a move to Spain with Racing Santander three years later.
Zigic managed 12 goals during his debut season in La Liga, and his solid form persuaded Valencia to part with the lion’s share of £15 million to bring him to the Mestalla after just one season with Racing, however the towering forward found his chances limited at Los Che, with Spanish star David Villa (now of Barcelona) often preferred in the lone striker’s role.
The Serbian international returned to Racing Santander on loan during the second half of the 2008/09 season, managing to notch 13 goals in 19 appearances during his short stint with the Verdiblancos and, after being reinstated in the Valencia squad last season, he registered 9 goals in 28 games.
Zigic also has a fairly impressive record at international level with Serbia, amassing 42 caps and scoring 16 goals in the process.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has reportedly been handed a £40m war chest to strengthen his squad, following the Blues impressive 9th place finish in last season’s Premier League table – and the Scotsman has already begun fortifying his ranks, following England ‘keeper Ben Foster‘s £4 million move from Manchester United.
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