Kwame Poku was the centerpiece of Birmingham City’s transfer discussions throughout May and June, yet in a surprising twist, he chose to sign with Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers instead.
Birmingham City appeared to be the frontrunners for Poku’s signature, having monitored the promising winger over multiple transfer windows. The club also maintained strong connections with Peterborough United’s key figures, Darragh MacAnthony and Barry Fry, which seemed to put Blues in a favorable position. However, Poku and his agent delayed their decision, prompting Birmingham City to move on by mid-June, as confirmed by BirminghamLive.
Just two weeks after Birmingham’s interest waned, Poku committed to QPR. The left-footed winger had been a valuable asset in Blues manager Chris Davies’ tactical setup but was ultimately swayed by the appeal of QPR’s vision. While many players refer to Birmingham’s “project” as a major factor in their move, Poku was drawn to the ambition promised by QPR. Upon signing, he expressed, “I feel like the project they’re building here excites me and I want to be part of taking QPR to that next level.”
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However, Poku’s time at QPR has been anything but smooth. The club has struggled in recent years, finishing 15th, 18th, and 20th in the Championship over the last three seasons. This season, after 15 games, QPR sits 16th, reflecting inconsistent form. Poku’s contributions have been limited—he’s appeared in only two matches due to a hamstring injury sustained on the season opener, which sidelined him for nearly three months.
His brief return to the pitch came in QPR’s heavy 4-1 loss to Ipswich Town in early November when he came on as a substitute. Unfortunately, a training injury shortly after ruled him out of subsequent fixtures against Southampton and Sheffield United.
QPR manager Julien Stephan anticipates Poku will resume training during the upcoming international break, offering a hopeful turning point. At 24, Poku is eager to overcome his setbacks and prove his worth. Meanwhile, Birmingham City’s leadership will likely watch closely to see how the winger performs after their unsuccessful attempt to secure his signature over the summer.