Mike Rigg, a former Manchester City director of football, will join Birmingham City as the Championship club looks to restructure their academy.
The 53-year-old is said to be working as a sporting director for Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates, who are coached by Frank de Boer.
He will thereafter take over as Birmingham’s academy recruitment manager.
Chief executive Garry Cook has identified Rigg as the man who can unearth new talent for the club as it looks to build for the future under manager Wayne Rooney.
Birmingham already has a number of promising young players in and around their first team squad, having produced players such as Jude and Jobe Bellingham in recent years.
Rigg was instrumental in signing Sergio Aguero to Manchester City and has had key positions with Burnley, Fulham, QPR, Blackburn Rovers, and England.