Birmingham City Exit for Jonathan Panzo Seems Inevitable Despite Manager’s Hesitation

Not long ago, Birmingham City routinely faced a host of contract decisions at season’s end. In 2023, the Blues released six players after their contracts expired—though Kevin Long re-signed two months later. The following year, another five players were let go following the club’s relegation to League One. Last season, only Grant Hanley and Lee Myung-jae were released after their short-term deals ended.

This trend has shifted dramatically. With Birmingham City now investing significantly in long-term contracts, nearly every player in Chris Davies’ squad is secured for at least the next season. Even returning loanees Marc Leonard (contracted until 2028) and Scott Wright (until 2027) are tied down at St Andrew’s.

The lone exception is Jonathan Panzo, whose future remains uncertain after the Championship finale against Portsmouth. Signed on deadline day in January from Rio Ave to strengthen the left side of central defense, Panzo initially impressed with solid performances against Leeds United and Norwich City. This earned him a place in the starting lineup by mid-February, sidelining Phil Neumann.

However, the optimism surrounding Panzo’s arrival quickly faded. Throughout his Championship career, Panzo has struggled to maintain consistency. Despite captaining Chelsea’s academy teams and winning the Under-17 World Cup with England alongside talents like Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White, his promise has yet to materialize at the senior level. While he featured in 29 league games for Coventry City during their 2022/23 play-off final run, his appearances for Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest were sparse.

At Birmingham, Panzo made six league starts, five of which ended in defeat. His last outing—a difficult game at left-back against Ipswich on Easter Monday—highlighted his unsuitability for that position. It’s clear Panzo is not a natural left-back, and his performances have left much to be desired.

In short, Panzo has not demonstrated enough to merit a new contract with Birmingham City. Manager Chris Davies was diplomatic when discussing Panzo’s future after the Portsmouth match. Davies acknowledged the player’s professionalism and training attitude, calling him a valuable squad member. He explained, “We will have to sit down with him and look at what we’ve got here for him and what he really wants. If those align, then so be it; if not, naturally he would move on.”

At 25, Panzo deserves regular playing time, not a peripheral role. Birmingham City, focused on promotion ambitions, requires players who consistently contribute. Given Panzo’s struggles and the club’s direction, parting ways appears to be the most sensible path forward.