Birmingham City have signed striker Alvaro Gimenez from Almeria after triggering the release clause in his contract.

The 28-year-old enjoyed an extremely productive campaign last time out, scoring 20 goals in the Spanish second division, which was the best in the league.

And, his form caught the eye of Blues, with the Championship side announcing his arrival on a three-year deal earlier today.

Bringing in a new number nine was a priority for new boss Pep Clotet who is looking to replace Che Adams, after the top scorer from last season left to join Southampton in a £15m deal at the start of last month.

Alvaro has previous experience of playing in La Liga, although he has spent most of his career in the second-tier, but last season was the first time he had hit double figures for goals.

He may not be the only new addition up top for Blues before Thursday's deadline, with Clotet short in numbers in that area and another departure is on the cards too, with Cardiff closing in on a deal for Isaac Vassell.

The Verdict

This is a very interesting signing as Alvaro was superb last season playing at a decent standard, so on paper he will bring a lot to this Blues side.

However, his form over the years shows he hasn't been prolific, so it's going to be intriguing to see whether something has finally clicked for him or he was just a one-season wonder.

With a real physical presence and a strong work ethic, he does seem a good fit for the Championship though.

Now, it's about bringing in a few more players to finish off what has been a good window for Blues.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.