Birmingham sign Iceland defender Sampsted on loan

Sampsted helped FC Twente to third place in the Eredivisie last season

Birmingham City have brought in Iceland right-back Alfons Sampsted on a season-long loan from Dutch top-flight side FC Twente.

The 26-year-old, who has won 20 full caps for his country, becomes Blues’ 11th signing of the summer transfer window.

Birmingham, who began their League One campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Reading on Saturday, have an option to make Sampsted’s move permanent at the end of the season.

“It has been a couple of days coming but it is very nice that everything is set up and ready,” Sampsted told Blues TV.

The defender began his career in his homeland with Breidablik before moving to Swedish side IFK Norrkoping and then Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, where he helped to win back-to-back league titles.

Sampsted has made 36 Eredivisie appearances since joining Twente at the beginning of 2023.