Birmingham City have completed the signing of Lille defender Rafael Schmitz.

The 26-year-old becomes the Blues' seventh summer signing after passing a medical yesterday. He has signed on a season-long loan and tribalfootball.com understands Brum management see the Brazilian playing at both centre-half and left-back.

Schmitz was granted dual nationality in May but will not be eligible to play for City until he receives his French passport.

Schmitz is not due to get that confirmation for at least three weeks - causing an expected delay in his registration with the Premier League.

A statement on the club's official website said: "The club hopes to be able to clarify this position on Monday following notification from the Premier League."

Schmitz played five times in the Champions League last term and also has experience of playing in the UEFA Cup.

Blues manager Steve Bruce said: "Rafael's got good experience, he's been at Lille for a while.

"We saw Lille play in the league against Paris St 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 City boss has already signed Fabrice Muamba, Stuart Parnaby, Olivier Kapo, Garry O'Connor, Daniel de Ridder and Richard Kingson - the latter subject to obtaining a work permit - this summer.