Birmingham City: Carlisle sign Mitchell Roberts as Ivan Sanchez joins Real Valladolid

Mitchell Roberts got his first taste of first-team football on loan at Harrogate last season

Birmingham City have loaned out defender Mitchell Roberts to League Two Carlisle United and winger Ivan Sanchez to Spanish side Real Valladolid - both until the end of the season.

Sanchez, 29, has played 44 times for Blues since arriving from Spanish side Elche in August 2020 but has not featured since August.

Roberts, 21, has also signed a new one-year deal for the Championship club.

The Worcestershire-born centre-back was on loan at Harrogate last season.

Roberts, who came through the Blues academy, could make his Carlisle debut at Salford City on Tuesday.

Sanchez and Roberts take the number of January departures from St Andrew's to nine, in line with Blues technical Craig Gardner's vow to "bring down the wage bill".

Middlesbrough signed midfielder Caolan Boyd-Munce on a two-and-half year deal, Charlton re-signed Chuks Aneke and former skipper Harlee Dean was loaned to Sheffield Wednesday until the end of the season.

Also, Leo Dos Reis, who scored three times in nine appearances for the Under-23s after arriving from Barcelona a year ago, has signed for Italian Serie B side AC Monza, subject to international clearance.

Loanees Riley McGree, Dion Sanderson and Juan Castillo all retuned to their clubs before being moved on again.

But Blues have signed Rangers midfielder Juninho Bacuna and Nottingham Forest loan striker Lyle Taylor and made three more loan signings - winger Onel Hernandez from Norwich City, Brighton midfielder Taylor Richards and Manchester United defender Teden Mengi.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.