Birmingham City transfer details revealed as club confirm capture of 21-cap Iceland international

The 26-year-old has joined on a season-long loan from Dutch side FC Twente, and the club have confirmed there is an option to buy included in the deal. His move to St Andrew's is subject to league, FA, international clearance and visa approval.

A proposed move to Birmingham had been reported on Friday by Icelandic outlet Fotbolti.net, and now just a few days later he has been unveiled as their latest signing. Head coach Chris Davies was tight lipped about a move for Sampsted on Saturday, but now the Icelandic international will compete with Ethan Laird for a place as the starting right-back.

Sampsted, capped 21 times for the Icelandic national team, revealed that he was waiting for the go-ahead from Twente and Birmingham City to complete the move. He was ready and waiting, as he based himself near the airport in Amsterdam, in readiness to begin his new adventure in England.

Speaking to the official club website, he said: "I am very pleased actually. It has been a couple of days coming but it is very nice that everything is set up and ready.

"The last 24 hours I was waiting for the go-ahead from the clubs that I could travel to here. So, I took the train to Amsterdam and stayed at a friend's place five minutes from the airport ready to hop on the plane.”

Sampsted was not in Twente’s squad for their opening day win over NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie, and will now be preparing for his debut, which should come this week. Birmingham face a trip to Charlton Athletic on Tuesday (August 13) in the Carabao Cup, but if the relevant paperwork cannot be completed in that time, then the next available opportunity is against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday (August 17).

Birmingham City are getting a player that began his career in Iceland, having started with Breioablik. He then moved on to Sweden, as he turned out for IFK Norrkoping, IF Sylvia and Landskrona BoIS. A move to Denmark took place, and he won the Norweigan league with FK Bodo/Glimt in back-to-back seasons.

For the last 18 months, he has been plying his trade in the Netherlands with FC Twente, and departs the Grolsch Veste having made 44 appearances. His last involvement with Twente was as an unused substitute in a first leg defeat to RB Salzburg in the first leg of their third round UEFA Champions League qualifier.