Birmingham City sign Besiktas star Kerim Frei on €2.5m move

Birmingham City have completed the signing of Besiktas winger Kerim Frei for a €2.5 million transfer fee a source close to the player told Turkish-Football.com.

Besiktas confirmed that negotiations are underway in a statement released on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

The statement read: “Talks with Birmingham City over the transfer of Kerim Frei are officially underway.”

Super Lig clubs listed on the stock exchange are obliged to release transfer information before a deal has taken place.

Statements of this nature are generally a formality before releasing information that the transfer has taken place.

Besiktas are expected to release a statement confirming the details of the transfer soon.

Frei joined Besiktas as a highly rated youngster from Fulham. Despite showing glimpses of his quality he never cemented a regular first team spot.

The Turkish international grew tired of being used as substitute over the years. Frei came on as a sub in 50 games during his Super Lig career, second to only Mehmet Akyuz (54) in the same period.

Frei has made 14 appearances this season scoring four goals in the process – all in cup games.

The 23-year-old had a total of 13 goals and six assists in 109 games for the Black Eagles since joining from Fulham.

Frei is a Turkish international but he will not require a work permit to play in England due to being born in Switzerland.

The winger could have played for Switzerland, Morocco and Turkey at international level but opted to pick the Crescent-Stars who he qualified to play for through his father.

Birmingham City also completed the signing of Middlesbrough winger Emilio Nsue on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee today according to the BBC.

The Championship side are currently managed by Gianfranco Zola and Frei will be his fourth January signing.