By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey
Friday 28 January 2011 15:39, UK
Image:Martins: Birmingham loan
Birmingham City have completed the signing of former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins.
Former Newcastle striker Martins back in England
Birmingham City have completed the signing of former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins.
Martins is currently with Russian club Rubin Kazan, who have revealed that they have loaned him to Blues until the end of the season.
The 26-year-old Nigeria international moved to Russia last summer from Wolfsburg for a reported fee of €17million, but he has not settled and Kazan have now sanctioned his returned to England.
Martins, who began his career with Inter Milan, moved to Newcastle in 2006 and spent three years at St James' Park before a switch to Wolfsburg in 2009.
"He has just had a child and he asked to be let go to England, as he wants to go closer to his family," Rubin coach Kurban Berdyev confirmed.
Rubin stated on their website that Martins had gone on loan for six months.
It is reported that Martins shunned a move to West Bromwich Albion to join Birmingham.
