Since Chris Davies was appointed manager two years ago, Birmingham City have completed a remarkable 38 signings as they aimed to rebuild and compete in League One and beyond.
The summer of 2024 saw an influx of 17 new players, followed by three additional signings in January to strengthen the squad. The following summer brought 12 more players, with six added in January, all with aspirations of breaking into the play-offs. Despite these efforts, the Blues finished a respectable 10th in the Championship.
In the modern game, recruitment is a collaborative effort. At Birmingham City, director of football Craig Gardner and head of recruitment Joe Carnall lead a data-driven recruitment team that supports Davies. Gardner recently explained the process to supporters, highlighting a football committee that includes the CFO, manager, and recruitment staff. This team produces a shortlist of top candidates for each position based on rigorous profile criteria such as technical skills, physical attributes, and tactical suitability.
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From hundreds of potential players, the committee narrows choices to a manageable shortlist, which Davies then uses to select the final signing, aiming to find the perfect fit for the team. The recruitment process also incorporates team simulations to predict how each player would impact the squad’s overall performance and league standing.
Here’s how all 38 signings stack up, rated out of 10 by Blues reporter Alex Dicken, based on their impact, performance, and value to the club:
Top Performers:
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Christoph Klarer (10): Two consecutive Player of the Year awards, captaincy, and a pivotal presence. Klarer has become the cornerstone of the side.
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Jay Stansfield (9): A vital goal scorer and provider, his minutes and contributions in the Championship were among the best.
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Tomoki Iwata (9): Outstanding in League One and a key performer in the Championship, showcasing versatility and resilience.
Strong Contributors:
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Ryan Allsop (8): A dependable goalkeeper in League One and Championship, praised for his unique ball-playing ability.
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Ben Davies (8): Quickly rose from fourth choice to a key defensive partner, showing strong performances when fit.
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Alex Cochrane (8), Marc Leonard (8), Kieran Dowell (8), Kai Wagner (8), Jhon Solis (8), Ibrahim Osman (8): Each has brought solidity, potential, and impact in various roles.
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Alfie May (8): A shrewd signing and profitable departure, delivering valuable goals in the process.
Mid-Level Ratings:
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Players like Taylor Gardner-Hickman (7), Lyndon Dykes (7), Demarai Gray (7), Patrick Roberts (7), August Priske (7), Carlos Vicente (7.5), and Phil Neumann (7) provided useful options and moments of quality but sometimes lacked consistency.
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Others like James Beadle (6.5), Willum Willumsson (6.5), Marvin Ducksch (6.5), and Alfons Sampsted (6) showed promise but didn’t consistently excel.
Lower Ratings and Misses:
- Some signings failed to meet expectations, including Bailey Peacock-Farrell (4), Emil Hansson (4), Eiran Cashin (4), Jack Robinson (4.5), Kyogo Furuhashi (3), Kanya Fujimoto (3), and Lewis Koumas (5), due to various issues such as poor adaptation, limited game time, or mismatch with Davies’ style.
With this diverse mix of successes and setbacks, Birmingham City’s recruitment under Chris Davies reflects both the challenges and ambitions of rebuilding a competitive squad. The integral role of a data-led recruitment strategy coupled with Davies’ final choices defines the club’s pathway moving forward.