Cardiff City have signed Spanish midfield player Victor Camarasa on a season-long loan from Real Betis.

Manager Neil Warnock has been working to strengthen his squad ahead of Cardiff’s opening Premier League match on Saturday and he badly needed extra competition in central midfield.

The 24-year-old came through Valencia’s academy before joining Levante UD in 2012, making his first team debut in December 2013.

He spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Alaves in the top flight and then signed for Real Betis in June 2017.

Camarasa made 24 La Liga appearances for Real last season when they finished.

The former Spanish under-21 international was an unused substitute when Real Betis won 2-1 at Cardiff City Stadium last weekend.

Warnock had been trying to sign Serbian international Marko Grujic on loan from Liverpool, but the deal fell through.

Camarasa is Cardiff’s fifth summer signing, following goalkeeper Alex Smithies, Greg Cunningham, Bobby Reid and Josh Murphy.

Goalkeeper Lee Camp has left the Bluebirds and signed for Championship club Birmingham City on a free transfer.

Camp, 33, joins former Cardiff club-mate Omar Bogle at St Andrew’s.

“I just want to play well – and be consistent,” said Camp, who has agreed a two-year contract.

Northern Ireland international Camp is a former Derby County, QPR, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Rotherham and West Brom player.