Blues are on track for a stunning return to the second tier having taken League One by storm this season.
Birmingham were the heavy favourites to clinch the League One title before the campaign even started but the manner in which they’ve dominated the English third tier has still been hugely impressive.
Chris Davies’ side have lost just three of their 36 matches, earning a substantial lead over nearest rivals Wycombe Wanderers and Wrexham AFC with 10 outings to go. The substantial summer spend – including the £12 million arrival of Jay Stansfield – was always going to make a huge impact but it was still a challenge to make so many new players click and adjust to League One.
Promotion back to the Championship is almost certain to be secured and the title looks likely, too. As a result, Birmingham are already looking ahead to next season and are preparing themselves in the transfer market.
The permanent deal clause for Taylor Gardner-Hickman has already been activated ahead of the summer while Hannover 96 centre-back Phil Neumann has signed a pre-contract agreement. Meanwhile, there are calls to sign Rangers loanee Ben Davies for the long term.
But who else could come through the doors at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park this summer? As Bluenoses wait with eager anticipation, we loaded up the latest edition of Football Manager to run a simulation, predicting every player the club would sign before the end of the 2025 summer window.
Which players did Football Manager predict Birmingham would sign?
They say time travel doesn’t exist but in the alternate universe of Football Manager we were able to jump into the franchise’s very own version of Doctor Who’s Tardis.
Giddy after promotion and with the Premier League firmly in the crosshairs, chairman Tom Wagner was straight on the phone to clubs in the top flight. Kicking off with a controversial call to bitter local rivals Aston Villa, Wagner decided to clinch the signing of Kortney Hause.
A forgotten man at Villa Park having not made an appearance since October 2022, Hause – at least on Football Manager – finally recovered from a string of injuries and Blues took the plunge, securing his services for £475,000. The central defender joined to compete with the likes of Neumann and Christoph Klarer to get his career back on track.
Next up, Blues swooped in to clinch two Newcastle United prospects in bargain deals. Promising left-back Jordan Hackett was signed on a free transfer to compete with Lee Buchanan and Alex Cochrane, while Harrison Ashby – currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers in real life – was secured on a season-long deal for just £100,000.
Despite Stansfield and Alfie May flourishing in a formidable attacking partnership, Davies then opted to bring in a new forward. Anthony Partipilo, predominantly a right winger but also capable of leading the line, was signed from Italian Serie A side Parma in an exciting £2.3 million deal. No, we haven’t heard of him either, but he’s scored three goals in 18 matches up loan at Serie B club Frosinone in real life.
Who business did Blues do on deadline day?
Davies opted for a lengthy period of calm to allow his new Blues recruits to get to know one another and their new teammates ahead of the new season. Results were mixed in August with a 3-1 win at Bristol City to kick things off but defeats to the newly-relegated Leicester City and Southampton spoiling a perfect start.
Then came Deadline Day and Blues well and truly saved the best to last, splashing the cash with two significant transfers to steal the headlines.
First up, Frank Onyeka, a versatile 27-year-old capable of playing in any midfield position or at full-back, was secured as a marquee addition from Brentford. Costing £7.75 million, the Nigerian – on loan at Bundesliga side Augsburg in real life – joined the project at Blues following 69 Premier League appearances.
Next was the biggest deal of the entire window as Birmingham completed an audacious swoop for Tottenham Hotspur winger Bryan Gil. Just as the Sky Sports presenters were preparing to undo their top buttons and take off their yellow ties, Blues made an eleventh-hour dash to sign the man they feel will secure promotion to the big time.
Gil is yet to score in 43 matches for Spurs in real life but he joined with great promise from Sevilla in 2021, costing £21.6 million. Blues, impressed by the 24-year-old’s progress on loan at Girona in La Liga, decided to swoop in with a record-breaking £13.75 million offer with just hours left on the clock before the deadline.
Spurs, willing to move their failed prospect on, accepted the bid. Davies was delighted as he secured his shock number-one target, wrapping up a stunning transfer window with a bill of £24 million.
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