Birmingham City have signed 28-year-old midfielder Ivan Guzman on a free transfer and loaned him out to their 'sister club' UE Cornella, leaving many Blues fans baffled.

Guzman, who has signed a two-year deal with the club, has been training with the squad since the beginning of pre-season but will now join UE Cornella in the third tier of Spanish football.

The right-winger has spent the majority of his career in the division and joins after seeing his contract expire at UE Olot.

He made 68 appearances for the Catalan team during that period, scoring twice.

It seems that the Blues consider the new signing excess to requirements for the 2019/20 season and have sent him out on loan to UE Cornella.

The Birmingham side announced a partnership with UE Cornella in 2017, to "aid player and coach development".

Xavi Calm, who was the Spanish side’s manager last season, joined the Blues as under-23s coach earlier this summer, while midfielder Agustin Medina has also made the switch.

Many Birmingham fans are not convinced by this latest move, with some appearing baffled and suspicious as to what the purpose of the signing was.

Read the reaction of Blues supporters here: