Birmingham City have captured former Arsenal forward Quincy Owusu-Abeyie from Spartak Moscow on an initial loan deal worth around £1.58m.

The 22-year-old Ghanaian international has signed a contract until January 2009 with an option to extend it to the end of the season.

Should the deal become permanent it would cost Blues a further £3.6m.

Owusu-Abeyie began his football career at Ajax in Holland and was at Arsenal from 2002 to 2006.

Having spent nine years as a youngster with the Dutch outfit, he found his chances limited under Arsene Wenger and joined Spartak before being loaned out to Spanish side Celta Vigo.

Although born in Holland, he was allowed to switch his international allegiance to Ghana last year and was a member of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations squad.