Craig Bellamy's season-long loan to Cardiff City has been confirmed by Manchester City. The 31-year-old Wales captain will be unveiled at a press conference this afternoon.

A statement on Manchester City's official website read: "Manchester City can confirm that Craig Bellamy has agreed to join Championship club Cardiff City on a season-long loan.

"He will be officially unveiled in south Wales later today and, subject to Premier League and Football League ratification, will join up with Dave Jones's side in time to make his debut at home to Doncaster Rovers at the weekend."

Bellamy agreed to drop down a division and sign for his hometown club after being frozen out at Eastlands by manager Roberto Mancini. Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and Fulham were linked with the pacy forward, but City did not want him joining one of their Premier League rivals. Bellamy was also a target for former employers Celtic, but opted to move closer to his family in south Wales.

The move represents a major coup for Cardiff, who were beaten in last season's Championship play-off final by Blackpool. The Bluebirds have previously signed ageing forwards Robbie Fowler and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, but Bellamy was playing some of the best football of his career last term.

The ex-Newcastle United and Liverpool player had talked about giving up football altogether having been told by Mancini he does not figure in his plans. Instead he is set to make Cardiff the ninth club of a colourful career which has also taken in Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United and racked up around £45m in transfer fees.