Birmingham City have finally completed the club record signing of Ecuadorian hitman Christian Benitez who arrives at St Andrews for an initial £7.7million from Mexican side Santos Laguna.

The Premier League new-boys had agreed personal terms with the 23-year-old in early June but after doctors discovered a problem with the striker's knee when undergoing his medical, the Blues immediately asked to renegotiate the deal with an agreement between the two clubs now reached.

The Ecuador international, who has scored 31 goals in 58 games in Mexico following on from an impressive World Cup showing in Germany in 2006, is currently recovering from shoulder surgery but that has not stopped Alex McLeish tying him down to a three-year contract.

Obtaining a work permit will not be an issue for the highly-rated ace, who began his career in his homeland with El Nacional, as he has played in 86 per cent of his country's competitive games over the past two years.

"I am really happy to have signed for Birmingham City and am looking forward to playing for the Blues," he told the club's official website.

"I think it is the right time for Christian Benitez to take on the challenge of the Premier League and I will be giving everything to score as many goals as possible and share in good times with this club."

Meanwhile, McLeish is also reportedly close to sealing a permanent deal for West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer, with the 32-year-old expected to put pen-to-paper on a contract with the Blues within the next few days.