'BRIGHT' SPARK CAN LIGHT UP BLUES – EXPERT

BIRMINGHAM City have signed one of the best fullbacks from the Turkish Super Lig in Nigeria international Bright Osayi-Samuel.

- JOSEPH CHAPMAN

The 27-year-old became Blues' fifth signing of the summer transfer window on Friday, following Phil Neumann, James Beadle, Tommy Doyle and Demarai Gray through the door - before Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi arrived last night.

He arrives from Turkish side Fener-bahce, where he has been stationed for the past four-and-a-half years having made his name in England as a livewire winger for Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers.

It is Osayi-Samuel's speed and athleticism that made him so attractive to Blues. For all of their strengths last season, they didn't have pace in abundance and they have moved to correct that by signing Neumann, Gray and Osayi-Samuel.

"When he first arrived at Fener-bahce he was a winger but they transitioned him into a wing-back role. In the Super Lig he was one of the best fullbacks in the league, mainly because of his speed and athleticism," said Turkish football expert Kaan Bayazit. "He's not super-tall but he's strong and good in the duels. In the Super Lig in the last few years, other than Galatasaray and Fenerbahce who have some top-class wingers, there’s a lack of really good left-wingers in the league.