Birmingham City fans and pundits alike have noticed the significant impact Jhon Solis has made since arriving in the January transfer window. The Colombian midfielder, loaned from Girona, was brought in to strengthen a midfield that had been lacking in physical presence in the Championship.
Solis’s contributions have been notable, though not without learning moments—such as a red card against Millwall and his absence during back-to-back defeats to Middlesbrough, which saw the team’s momentum falter. Nonetheless, Solis’s influence on the pitch is clear: Birmingham City have lost only three games he started this season—against Millwall, Charlton, and Ipswich away.
Blues manager Chris Davies has been full of praise, emphasizing Solis’s rare physicality for a defensive midfielder in the league. “There won’t be many more physical sixes in the league,” Davies said. “He’s a good size. When the game opens up a bit, he can use his power. He’s not shy to do the dirty work, and he fits well into the team dynamics, communicating effectively with teammates like Paik Seung-ho and Tomoki Iwata.”
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The loan deal from Girona carries a conditional permanent purchase clause based on objectives. It is understood that promotion to the Premier League would have triggered a mandatory buy, which is now off the table. Despite this, an option to buy remains, as Solis himself confirmed in March: “There’s a possibility I’ll stay; it’s a loan with an option-to-buy.”
Reports suggest a permanent transfer could also be triggered if Solis made 11 appearances. While he has made 14 appearances so far, the clause likely requires a minimum number of minutes per game—potentially 45—counting only certain matches. As of the recent victory over Wrexham, Solis met the 11-match threshold in terms of minutes played, but when considering league matches only, he is just shy of this benchmark.
Regardless of these technicalities, all parties seem aligned on the likelihood of Solis remaining at St Andrew’s for the next season. Davies is confident in Solis’s ability to thrive at this level. “He’s really built for this league,” Davies stated. “He combines physicality with pace and power, and he performs the essential, often overlooked tasks like winning second balls and tackles.”
The key remaining factor is whether Birmingham City’s management will proceed with the permanent signing from a financial perspective. However, Davies is optimistic: “We’ve had internal discussions about building a squad that can push forward next year, and we’re very pleased with what Solis has contributed. At the end of the season, we’ll see what can be done.”
In summary, Jhon Solis has proven himself an important asset for Birmingham City, and the possibility of a permanent stay looks promising, pending final financial considerations.