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2024–25 Birmingham City F.C. season

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Birmingham City
2024–25 season
Owners
ChairmanTom Wagner[1]
ManagerChris Davies[2]
StadiumSt Andrew's
League One 
FA CupFirst round
EFL CupFirst round
EFL TrophyGroup stage
← 2023–24
2025–26 →

The 2024–25 season is Birmingham City Football Club's 122nd season in the English football league system and first season in the third-tier EFL League One since 1994–95. They finished in 22nd place in the 2023–24 EFL Championship, so were relegated after 13 years at that level.[3] As with all third- and fourth-tier League clubs, the first team will compete in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

Background and pre-season

Main article: 2023–24 Birmingham City F.C. season

Off the field

In July 2023, Shelby Companies Ltd, a subsidiary of asset management company Knighthead Capital Management fronted by Tom Wagner, Knighthead's co-founder and co-CEO,[4] completed the purchase of 45.64% of Birmingham City plc shares and the whole of Birmingham City Stadium Ltd.[5] Although previous owners Birmingham Sports Holdings (BSH) retained 51% of the shares, Wagner confirmed that Shelby were "responsible for the operations of the club moving forward" and that "nothing about the way the transaction is structured will prevent us from obtaining the long-term goals we have for the club."[1][6] Former Manchester City executive Garry Cook was appointed CEO, and considerable media attention followed the arrival of seven-time Super Bowl-winner Tom Brady as minority owner and chair of the club's advisory board.[7][8]

Works begun during the 2022–23 season to demolish and rebuild the lower tiers of the Kop and Tilton Road stands, closed since late 2020 because of what was initially described as water damage to structural steelwork and eventually revealed to be asbestos-related,[9][10] and interrupted when the main contractors filed for administration finally completed in November 2023 under the management of Mace Consult. The rebuild included conversion of the lower Tilton to safe standing.[11][12] In January 2024, the club's owners, Shelby Companies, renamed the stadium St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park as part of what it described as "the largest commercial agreement in the club's history". According to Tom Wagner, chairman of both club and Shelby's parent company Knighthead, it was "step one in our plan to create a world-renowned 'Sports Quarter' in Birmingham. We invested in Blues because of the opportunity to not only transform a football club but to also be a catalyst for change in the city itself."[13] By the start of the 2024–25 season, the club intended to construct two fan parks outside the ground as well as refurbish hospitality areas within the stadium and make the public address system work.[14]

Benefiting from the upgrade to the club's agreement with kit suppliers Nike during the 2023–24 season to include bespoke rather than off-the-shelf product, the 2024–25 home kit consists of a royal blue shirt with white trim at collar and cuffs, white sides, and – with echoes of the Co-op Milk shirt of the 1980s – a white strip across the front carrying the logo of the club's principal partner, streetwear company Undefeated, white shorts and royal blue socks.[15][16]

On the field

On-field matters ran less smoothly, resulting in Birmingham City beginning the 2024–25 season in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1994–95.[17][18]

On 6 June, after "close to 1,000 coaches being evaluated and more than 40 being spoken to directly or through their representatives", Chris Davies, senior assistant coach under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, was appointed manager on a four-year contract. It would be his first senior managerial role.[2][19]

Transfers

Among out-of-contract players, departures included the long-serving Neil Etheridge, Gary Gardner, Scott Hogan, Marc Roberts and Ivan Sunjic, as well as young professionals Marcel Oakley and Tate Campbell. New contracts were offered to Lukas Jutkiewicz and John Ruddy – Jutkiewicz accepted, Ruddy did not[20][21] – and the option on Keshi Anderson's contract was taken up.[22] The return of loanee Jay Stansfield, 2023–24 Player of the Year and top scorer, to his parent club left Birmingham particularly short of strikers.[23][24]

The first contracted player to leave was midfielder Alex Pritchard, who joined Turkish Süper Lig club Sivasspor for an undisclosed fee.[25]

The first new signings were goalkeepers Ryan Allsop from Hull City and Northern Ireland international Bailey Peacock-Farrell from Burnley,[26][27] followed by 2023–24 League One top scorer Alfie May from divisional rivals Charlton Athletic.[28]

Pre-season

After a week's training in Austria, to include a friendly against German second-tier team Paderborn 07,[29] the team would take part in the third edition of the Arthur Cup, a match against Solihull Moors in aid of children's charities in memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.[30] The club's programme continued with three friendlies against local opposition – away to Walsall and Shrewsbury Town and at home to West Bromwich Albion – and a match to mark the first anniversary of the death of Birmingham City legend Trevor Francis, at home to another of his former clubs, Rangers.[29]

Pre-season friendly match details
Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A 		Scorers Ref.
13 July 2024 Paderborn 07 N L 0–5 [31]
17 July 2024 Solihull Moors A W 3–0 May, Miyohsi, Jutkiewicz [32]
20 July 2024 Shrewsbury Town A W 2–0 James 20', Jutkiewicz 84' [33]
24 July 2024 Rangers H W 2–1 Tavernier 10' (o.g.), May 36' [34]
27 July 2024 Walsall A W 1–0 May 60' [35]
3 August 2024 West Bromwich Albion H W 4–1 May (2) 20', 82', Klarer 72', Willumsson 80' [36]

EFL League One

Main article: 2024–25 EFL League One

August

Birmingham will start their league campaign at home to Reading on 10 August 2024.[37]

League table (part)

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Wycombe Wanderers 14 10 2 2 32 16 +16 32 Promotion to EFL Championship
2 Birmingham City 13 9 3 1 24 12 +12 30
3 Wrexham 15 8 4 3 22 11 +11 28 Qualification for League One play-offs
4 Stockport County 16 7 6 3 26 17 +9 27
5 Lincoln City 15 7 5 3 21 17 +4 26
Updated to match(es) played on 16 November 2024. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[38]

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Last updated: 26 June 2024.
Source: [39][40]

Match results

EFL League One match details
Date League
position[39] 		Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A 		Scorers Attendance Refs

FA Cup

Main article: 2024–25 FA Cup

As with all teams in the lower two divisions of the Football League, Birmingham enter the competition in the first round.

FA Cup match details
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Refs

EFL Cup

Main article: 2024–25 EFL Cup

Birmingham were drawn to play away to League One rivals Charlton Athletic in the first round.[41]

EFL Cup match details
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Refs

EFL Trophy

Main article: 2024–25 EFL Trophy

When Birmingham last took part in this competition, then named the Football League Trophy, in the 1994–95 season, they beat Carlisle United in the final via Paul Tait's golden goal.[42] In the group stage, Birmingham were drawn into Southern Group A alongside Shrewsbury Town, Walsall and Fulham U21.[43]

Pos Div Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Walsall 3 2 1 0 0 5 1 +4 8 Advance to Round 2
2 L1 Birmingham City 3 2 0 1 0 12 2 +10 7
3 ACA Fulham U21 3 1 0 0 2 3 9 −6 3
4 L1 Shrewsbury Town 3 0 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Updated to match(es) played on 12 November 2024. Source: EFL
EFL Trophy match details
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Refs

Squad changes

For those players sold, released, or whose contract ended before the start of this season, see 2023–24 Birmingham City F.C. season.

In

Date Player Club † Fee Refs
18 June 2024 Ryan Allsop Hull City Undisclosed [26]
30 June 2024 Bailey Peacock-Farrell Burnley Undisclosed [27]
2 July 2024 Alfie May Charlton Athletic Undisclosed [28]
5 July 2024 Emil Hansson Heracles Almelo Undisclosed [44]
16 July 2024 Alex Cochrane Heart of Midlothian Undisclosed [45]
19 July 2024 Willum Þór Willumsson Go Ahead Eagles Undisclosed [46]
20 July 2024 Christoph Klarer Darmstadt 98 Undisclosed [47]
25 July 2024 Marc Leonard Brighton & Hove Albion Undisclosed [48]
† Brackets round a club's name indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham.

Loaned in

Date Player Club Return Refs
4 August 2024 Luke Harris Fulham End of Season [49]

Out

Date Player Club † Fee Refs
1 July 2024 Alex Pritchard Sivasspor Undisclosed [25]
† Brackets round a club's name denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.

Loaned out

Date Player Club Return Refs
1 August 2024 Junior Dixon Boreham Wood End of season [50]

Appearances and goals

Sources: [51][22][52][53]
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made as a substitute.
Players marked † left the club during the playing season.
Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.
Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Players' appearances and goals by competition
No. Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow rectangle, denoting the yellow penalty card shown to a player being cautioned A red rectangle, denoting the red penalty card shown to a player being sent off
Players not included in matchday squads
No. Pos. Nat. Name
GK  ENG Ryan Allsop
FW  ENG Keshi Anderson
MF  CUR Juninho Bacuna
FW  ENG Ben Beresford
MF  POL Krystian Bielik
DF  ENG Lee Buchanan
MF  ENG Alfie Chang
DF  ENG Alex Cochrane
FW  SCO Siriki Dembélé
FW  ENG Junior Dixon
MF  ENG Romelle Donovan
DF  ENG Laiith Fairnie
DF  NIR Tommy Fogarty
MF  ENG George Hall
MF  ENG Harley Hamilton
FW  SWE Emil Hansson
MF  WAL Luke Harris (on loan from Fulham)
MF  ENG Josh Home
MF  WAL Jordan James
MF  SCO Marc Leonard
FW  ENG Lukas Jutkiewicz
MF  ENG Sahid Kamara
MF  ENG Brandon Khela
DF  AUT Christoph Klarer
DF  ENG Ethan Laird
DF  ENG Manny Longelo
FW  ENG Alfie May
GK  ENG Brad Mayo
MF  JPN Koji Miyoshi
DF  NOR Femi Olofinjana
MF  KOR Paik Seung-ho
DF  ENG Byron Pendleton
GK  NIR Bailey Peacock-Farrell
FW  WAL Tyler Roberts
DF  ENG Dion Sanderson
MF  ENG Josh Williams
MF  ISL Willum Þór Willumsson

References

  1. ^ a b c "Board Management". Birmingham City F.C. 16 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Chris Davies named Blues Manager". Birmingham City F.C. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Birmingham City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Knighthead completes Birmingham City Football Club acquisition" (Press release). Knighthead Capital Management LLC. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024 – via Birmingham City F.C.
  5. ^ "Knighthead completes Birmingham City Football Club acquisition" (Press release). Knighthead Capital Management LLC. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2023 – via Birmingham City F.C.
  6. ^ Dicken, Alex (14 July 2023). "Every word Tom Wagner said on Gardner, Bellingham cash and 'transformational' kit deal". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  7. ^ Hamilton, Tom (3 August 2023). "Tom Brady becomes minority owner at Birmingham City". ESPN. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  8. ^ Felt, Hunter (7 August 2023). "Obsessive drive and bioceramic PJs: what Tom Brady brings to Birmingham City". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  9. ^ Moxley, Neil; Ireland, Shane (8 April 2021). "Birmingham City fans dealt blow as St Andrew's repairs 'will not be ready' for new season". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  10. ^ Dicken, Alex (14 June 2023). "Birmingham City confirm two key dates for St Andrew's reopening after repair work". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Mace replaces Buckingham on Blues stadium". The Construction Index. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  12. ^ "The return to the Kop Lower". Birmingham City F.C. 22 November 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Birmingham City announces naming rights partnership with Knighthead" (Press release). Birmingham City F.C. 26 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  14. ^ Dicken, Alex (8 May 2024). "Knighthead begin £15m revamp to Birmingham City stadium and training grounds". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  15. ^ "2024/25 Home Shirt now on sale online". Birmingham City F.C. 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  16. ^ Dicken, Alex (13 June 2024). "Birmingham City unveil 2024/25 home kit after Nike deal upgrade". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  17. ^ Dicken, Alex (5 May 2024). "Knighthead must learn from seven mistakes which relegated Birmingham City". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  18. ^ Dicken, Alex (24 April 2024). "Where Birmingham City have gone wrong and the five players who surely won't stay in League One". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  19. ^ Scott, Ged (6 June 2024). "Birmingham appoint Spurs' Davies as new manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Lukas Jutkiewicz extends his Blues stay". Birmingham City F.C. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  21. ^ Dicken, Alex (1 July 2024). "John Ruddy explains Newcastle United job description after leaving Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Blues publish retained and released players". Birmingham City F.C. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  23. ^ Dicken, Alex (9 March 2024). "Redmond, Gallagher, Man: Forwards Birmingham City could sign if they avoid relegation". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  24. ^ Dicken, Alex (8 May 2024). "Alex Dicken's notebook: Coach bids farewell as Jay Stansfield names Birmingham City 'role model'". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Alex Pritchard makes Sivasspor switch". Birmingham City F.C. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Blues sign goalkeeper Allsop from Hull". BBC Sport. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  27. ^ a b Barnes, Dan (30 June 2024). "Burnley keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell joins Birmingham City". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  28. ^ a b Dicken, Alex (2 June 2024). "Birmingham City complete third signing in major blow to League One promotion rivals". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  29. ^ a b Dicken, Alex (14 June 2024). "Birmingham City pre-season: West Brom fixture completes schedule". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  30. ^ "The Arthur Cup: Solihull Moors vs Birmingham City". Solihull Moors F.C. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  31. ^ "Blues defeated in opening pre-season fixture". Birmingham City FC. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  32. ^ "Blues win the third annual Arthur Cup!". Birmingham City FC. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  33. ^ "Blues impress again with win over Shrewsbury". Birmingham City FC. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Blues win inaugural Trevor Francis Memorial Match". Birmingham City FC. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  35. ^ "Alfie May secures Blues win at Walsall". Birmingham City FC. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  36. ^ "Alfie May hits double as Blues thump Baggies". Birmingham City FC. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  37. ^ "Birmingham start League One campaign against Reading". BBC Sport. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  38. ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  39. ^ a b "Birmingham City league performance history". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 26 June 2024. Select content required via dropdown menus.
  40. ^ "League One Table". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  41. ^ "Middlesbrough visit Leeds in Carabao Cup opener". BBC Sport. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  42. ^ Haylett, Trevor (24 April 1995). "Fry's delight as Carlisle succumb to sudden death". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  43. ^ "Bristol Street Motors Trophy Group Stage confirmed". English Football League. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  44. ^ "Welcome to Birmingham City, Emil Hansson!". Birmingham City FC. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  45. ^ "Blues sign Alex Cochrane!". Birmingham City FC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Blues sign Willum Thor Willumsson!". Birmingham City FC. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  47. ^ "Christoph Klarer becomes Blues' newest recruit!". Birmingham City FC. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  48. ^ "Blues seal Marc Leonard signing!". Birmingham City FC. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  49. ^ "Blues loan Luke Harris!". Birmingham City FC. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  50. ^ "Welcome, Junior Dixon". Boreham Wood F.C. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  51. ^ "Teams: Mens: Squad list". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  52. ^ "Birmingham squad details 2024/25". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  53. ^ Sources for representative nationality: "Birmingham City: Players from A–Z". worldfootball.net. HeimSpiel Medien. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
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