Birmingham City entered the summer transfer window hoping to strengthen their squad under manager Chris Davies. While there are signs that individual players have gained physical strength, questions remain over the depth available in attacking positions.
Liam Millar has made an encouraging start to his time with the Blues, and Max Bird’s arrival appears to have offset Tommy Doyle’s return to parent club Wolves. Meanwhile, signing Dael Fry has provided Birmingham with a clear upgrade at third centre back compared to last season.
Seven players departed St Andrew’s either at the end of the 2025/26 campaign or during the summer window. Here is an update on how they are faring at their new clubs.
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One early exit was a surprise as the German midfielder Jack Wagner cut short his time at Birmingham after only a few months. Wagner returned to Major League Soccer with Philadelphia Union, who were struggling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference before his arrival. Since joining, he has helped inspire a turnaround, with the team climbing to sixth and contending for the play-offs. He has provided four assists in 12 appearances and was instrumental in a comeback win over Atlanta United. His leadership has been praised by local reporters as integral to the club’s recent improvement.
Another former Blues player, Kyogo Furuhashi, also moved to the MLS after a difficult stint at Birmingham. Kyogo managed only two goals last season and missed several notable chances. At LA Galaxy, he has started eight matches but is yet to score and has missed some key opportunities. Galaxy currently sit ninth in the Western Conference, battling for a play-off spot.
Defender Jordon Ibe, who showed promise initially before struggling with errors, was released last season after only nine appearances. He has joined Greek club Levadiakos, which sits second bottom in the Greek Super League. Ibe has not yet featured in matchday squads, as he adjusts to a new environment in his eleventh career club and fifth different country.
Tomoya Fujimoto was another player who failed to meet expectations at Birmingham. After limited opportunities, he was loaned back to his former club Tokyo Verdy in the J League. He has made one start, providing an assist in a 2-1 defeat in the J League Cup, and a brief substitute appearance in another match.
Tommy Doyle has returned to Wolves, where he has become a squad regular. Though he has not started any league games this season, he has appeared in all seven matches and contributed assists against Preston North End and Sheffield United. Doyle appears well reintegrated and focused on making an impact whenever called upon, aware of the demands of a full Championship campaign.
Khalil Osman returned to Brighton after a productive half-season at Birmingham last year. Despite hopes for a possible return on loan, Osman stayed at Brighton and has taken his chance to impress under Fabian Hurzeler. He has made three substitute appearances in the Premier League and featured in UEFA Conference League matches. Internationally, Osman is currently with Ghana but has yet to add to his four caps following recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
These moves reflect Birmingham City’s reshaped squad and the varying fortunes of former players as they seek to establish themselves at new clubs.