Wigan has signed Chile midfielder Jean Beausejour from Birmingham as the bottom-place club tries to stay in the English Premier League.

The 27-year-old former Club America player has joined Wigan on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

“Now Jean has 18 months of experience in the British game and his dynamism, technical ability and tactical concepts will bring a different dimension into our squad,” Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said.

“He is ready to bring his own experience and his energy into the fantastic challenge that as a football club we’re facing in the next 16 games of the season.”

Beausejour played 56 times for Birmingham, including the League Cup final victory over Arsenal last year before the club was relegated from the Premier League in May.

Now Beausejour will try to avoid a second successive relegation.

“We have a really tough end of the season, but I am really looking forward to the challenge ahead,” Beausejour said.