Birmingham have been one of the busier clubs on transfer deadline day as they captured Alexander Hleb on a season-long loan deal from Barcelona and Martin Jiranek on a one-year contract from Spartak Moscow.
Hleb has endured a tough time at the Nou Camp with first team opportunities limited and was even loaned out to German side Stuttgart last season. The Belarus international has previous experience in the Premiership having made 89 appearances for Arsenal in three years.
The 29-year-old midfielder was Alex McLeish's second signing of the day after completing a deal for defender Martin Jiranek. "We are short at the back with regards to defensive cover," described the Birmingham boss on the club's website.
"Jiranek has tremendous experience on club, European and international fronts.He is a good presence and his arrival will keep Roger Johnson and Scott Dann on their toes."
Jiranek has made 31 appearances for the Czech Republic and cost Spartak £4.7 million in 2004.
McLeish also described his joy at securing such a high profile signing from Barcelona. ""Hleb is a top quality player - one who at one stage we'd only actually dreamed about really," he said. "Over the past year or so we have talked about him but with no real belief we could get him.
"We decided to give it a try and towards the end of the window we found out it might be possible. This is a major signing for us and we are very happy to have him here.
"He is an extremely creative type who is skilful, a great dribbler and has an excellent touch and great feet. He has huge international experience and great pedigree due to playing for such clubs as Stuttgart, Arsenal and Barcelona.
"As with all the players we have brought to the club in recent times I'd like to thank the board for their support in making them happen."
The pair join fellow summer signings Ben Foster, Nikola Zigic, Mayy Derbyshire and Eric Valles at St. Andrews as the midlands club look to improve on their ninth place finish last season.
