Birmingham have signed Kemy Agustien on a season-long loan deal from AZ Alkmaar.
Dutch star joins Blues' promotion bid
Birmingham have signed Kemy Agustien on a season-long loan deal from AZ Alkmaar.
The Holland Under 21 international can operate anywhere across the midfield, bolstering Alex McLeish's options ahead of the 2008/09 campaign.
Having seen Daniel de Ridder, Olivier Kapo and Fabrice Muamba all leave St Andrews this summer the Blues boss had been short of players in the middle of the park.
Agustien has cost the club an initial £590,000, with the option to sign the 21-year-old on a permanent deal for £1.57million should they wish to do so.
Training
He is currently recovering from a hernia operation, but expects to be back in contention in the near future.
"I stared training again last weekend and I was doing running and skipping and stuff like that," he told the club's
official website.
"I think it will be another two weeks before I am back to full fitness.
"I don't normally have injuries and it was the first operation I've had."
Champion
Agustien also revealed his ambition to help his new employers secure an immediate return to the top flight next season.
"I'd wanted to leave AZ and my agent said that Birmingham wanted me," he said.
"I told him that Birmingham seems like a good club and they've spent most of the recent years in the Premier League, so why not?
"For me it's an opportunity to become a champion in this division and get a promotion to the Premier League."
