Thursday 19 January 2017 18:29, UK
Gianfranco Zola has signed his second full-back of the transfer window after Birmingham City completed a deal for Cheick Keita.
Sky Sports News HQ had reported the Blues were in advanced talks with Keita on Tuesday, and the 20-year-old has joined the Sky Bet Championship club from Italian Serie B side Virtus Entella for an undisclosed fee.
The defender has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal, while Birmingham also have the option to extend his contract by a further 12 months.
Newly-appointed Birmingham manager Zola was keen to bring in added cover with Jonathan Grounds the club's only recognised left-back and full-back Jonathan Spector seeking a return to the United States.
Zola has brought in four new permanent recruits in his first window in charge at St Andrew's, with Lukas Jutkiewicz, Craig Gardner and Emilio Nsue having also come in this month.
Keita, who will wear the No 33 shirt, is a product of the Clarefontaine football academy and has previously spent three years with Monaco.
The French-born player has since made 67 league appearances for Entella in Italy's second tier, and is qualified to represent Mali at international level.
