LUKAS Jutkiewicz's permanent departure from Burnley has been confirmed after Birmingham activated a clause in the striker's loan contract.

The Championship side had until December 31 to tell the Clarets they wished to take the option which allowed them to sign the 27-year-old for £1million

Jutkiewicz has been linked with other Championship clubs in recent days but the Blues were always in the driving seat and after he scored his sixth goal for the club in the defeat to Brighton on Friday night they acted to conclude the deal.

Birmingham controversially changed manager last week, with Gianfranco Zola replacing Gary Rowett, but that did not change their desire to sign Jutkiewicz, who had just six months remaining on his Turf Moor contract.

Jutkiewicz's time at Burnley will ultimately be remembered as a frustrating one. The striker suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury early last season which wiped his entire campaign out and he failed to score in 35 appearances, with 21 of those coming off the bench.

The striker's deal will be completed when the January transfer window opens and he has signed a contract until 2020 at St Andrews.