Birmingham City’s summer transfer window has been nothing short of headline-grabbing, with the club’s ambitions for back-to-back promotions fueling a series of high-profile moves and swirling rumors. As the Blues prepare for the next stage of their Championship campaign, speculation and strategic signings have put St Andrew’s firmly in the spotlight, but not all transfer whispers carry weight. Let’s break down the truth behind the biggest stories, the club’s current trajectory, and the names that have everyone talking.
Coming off a record-breaking League One title win—a feat that saw Birmingham City set a new Football League points record—the club’s American owners Tom Wagner and NFL legend Tom Brady have wasted no time in demonstrating their commitment. The summer of 2025 has brought an influx of talent, with Tommy Doyle, Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray, Phil Neumann, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and more joining the ranks. The aim is clear: emulate the likes of Ipswich Town and Southampton by storming straight into the Premier League.
Chris Davies, the Blues’ head coach, has been candid about the club’s transfer strategy. Speaking to Sky Sports, he explained, “You go up in any league, that league will be quicker, the games will be quicker, so we wanted to address that. We also wanted to add extra goal threat as well. We won a lot of games by just a goal last season, and there were a few tight ends to games where we couldn’t get that extra goal. Set pieces as well, we wanted to make sure we had quality in our delivery, so they’re the areas we’ve been looking at. But transfer windows are never perfect; there are so many moving parts, and there’s still a way to go actually until we have a squad that will be complete, and I’m really happy with.”
Among the most sensational rumors was a potential move for Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has dazzled for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League with 68 goals and 14 assists in just 79 appearances since leaving Fulham in 2023. Reports from talkSPORT and bet365 suggested Birmingham was plotting an audacious swoop for the prolific forward, whose previous stints with Newcastle United and Fulham made him a household name in English football. However, EFL Analysis, citing their Chief Football correspondent Graeme Bailey, decisively debunked the story on August 18, 2025. According to their sources, “there is no truth in the Mitrovic to Birmingham rumours.”
Why the disconnect? For starters, Mitrovic’s reported £21.5 million annual salary in Saudi Arabia would present a huge financial hurdle for a Championship side. EFL Analysis further revealed that while Mitrovic could be eyeing a return to England, it would only be for a Premier League club. Birmingham’s own sources insisted that the club is not interested in the Serbian forward, despite their ongoing search for more firepower up front.
That’s not to say the Blues are short of attacking options. The current forward line is already stacked, featuring Jay Stansfield—who netted a crucial equalizer against Blackburn Rovers—Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored in the Carabao Cup win over Sheffield United, recent Bundesliga import Marvin Ducksch, and Lyndon Dykes, the match-winner at Ewood Park. With such depth, goals hardly seem a problem for Davies’ side this season. As the EFL Analysis report put it, “Birmingham acquired Furuhashi as a statement signing, and the former Celtic hero has already got off the mark.” Ducksch, too, is expected to excite fans as he returns from injury, bringing his impressive Bundesliga record to the Midlands.
While the Mitrovic saga appears to be a non-starter, another Premier League veteran has emerged as a genuine target. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the 32-year-old former England international, has been heavily linked with a move to Birmingham from Besiktas. With 35 England caps, 198 games for Arsenal, and 146 for Liverpool—including a Premier League title and a Champions League winner’s medal—Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pedigree is unquestioned. Reports from Sky Sports News and Birmingham Live confirm that Besiktas are open to letting him leave on a free transfer, despite one year left on his contract.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s last two seasons in Turkey have been mixed. He made 44 appearances for Besiktas across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing one assist, but only featured in half of the club’s Turkish Super Lig games last season. His injury history and limited recent output have raised eyebrows among pundits. Football Insider, on August 18, 2025, cautioned that “Oxlade-Chamberlain is not the signing Birmingham City need as they look to launch a Championship promotion bid,” citing concerns about his fitness and the risk of disrupting the momentum built by younger, dynamic midfielders like Tomoki Iwata, Seung-Ho Paik, and Tommy Doyle.
Still, the appeal of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s experience is hard to ignore for a club with Premier League ambitions. As Sky Sports reported, “Birmingham are keen to utilise his experience in English football, as they look to achieve back-to-back promotions and reach the Premier League.” The Blues’ transfer approach this summer has been a blend of proven quality and youthful promise, with other new arrivals including Kanya Fujimoto, Eiran Cashin, James Beadle, Alfons Sampsted, and Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
On the pitch, Birmingham have started their Championship campaign on a solid note. A 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on August 8 was followed by a dramatic 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on August 16, with Lyndon Dykes grabbing the late winner. Demarai Gray, another summer signing, wasted no time making his mark by providing the match-winning assist. The Blues now look ahead to hosting Oxford United on August 23, hoping to build on their early momentum.
Meanwhile, squad management remains a key theme. The club has seen some departures—Emmanuel Longelo, for instance, joined Motherwell and quickly found the net in the Scottish Premiership. But with Davies’ focus on speed, set-piece quality, and squad depth, the transfer window is far from closed. The manager’s comments suggest there could still be more movement before the deadline in September, especially as the club seeks to add a new winger and further competition at left-back.
As for the fans, the buzz around St Andrew’s is palpable. There’s excitement about the blend of youth and experience, anticipation for more signings, and a sense that Birmingham City is a club on the rise. The Mitrovic rumor may have fizzled, but the Oxlade-Chamberlain pursuit remains alive—albeit with mixed opinions about its wisdom. What’s clear is that the Blues are not content to rest on last season’s laurels. They’re pushing forward, building a squad with the depth, quality, and ambition to challenge for another promotion. With the transfer window still open and the Championship season just heating up, all eyes remain on Birmingham City’s next move.
As the week unfolds, the Blues will look to extend their strong start at home against Oxford United. Whether or not Oxlade-Chamberlain dons the blue shirt, Birmingham’s intent is unmistakable: they’re here to compete, to entertain, and to make a serious run at the Premier League.
