Birmingham have completed the signing of Rafael Schmitz
from Lille on a season-long loan deal.
Steve Bruce had confirmed the Brazilian-born defender was heading
to St Andrews and he has now put pen-to-paper after passing a
medical.
Schmitz, who is Bruce's seventh signing ahead of the Premier League
season, has been a long-term target for the Blues boss.
"Rafael's got good experience, he's been at Lille for a while,"
Bruce told the club's official website.
"We saw Lille play in the league against Paris Saint Germain and
Auxerre and Rafael impressed both times.
"He's left-sided and he's played in the Champions League so he
knows what it's about.
"I'm sure he will do very, very well for us."
The 26-year-old's arrival at Birmingham may be delayed slightly
while he waits to receive his French passport.
Schmitz was granted dual nationality in May, but could have to wait
up to four weeks to join up with Bruce's squad.