Birmingham City faces three transfer dilemmas as deadline looms

Fourteen goals and four assists last season highlight Joe Gelhardt’s impact, and Birmingham City must decide on his potential signing as they juggle three transfer situations that need resolution before the 1 September window closes. The club, fresh from a 10th‑place finish in the Championship, is racing to finalise deals amid interest from multiple sides.

Action Images By  Declan Harte Published Aug 9, 2026, 7:00 PM GMT+1. Declan has a Masters degree in Sports Journalism earned in 2020 from the National University of Ireland, Galway. He joined Football League World in 2021 and has covered the EFL, previously worked on the Total Football podcast and now writes a weekly Formula 1 newsletter. Add Us Here to follow. Try St Action.

Birmingham City, known as the Blues, finished 10th in the Championship after earning promotion from League One in 2025. Their manager Chris Davies aims to bridge the gap to the league’s top teams and target a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2011.

Owners Knighthead Capital have invested heavily in the first‑team squad in recent years, overseeing five signings this summer, including a permanent deal for Jhon Solis. The club’s financial backing underpins its ambition to strengthen the roster ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

The summer transfer window remains open until 1 September, after which the market shuts for the rest of the calendar year. Birmingham must resolve its pending business before that deadline to avoid missing out on target players.

Record signing Jay Stansfield, a 23‑year‑old forward, has attracted interest from Everton, Sunderland, Hull City and Ipswich Town. He contributed 10 goals and six assists from 44 Championship appearances last season, making his future a potential distraction for the Blues.

Mike White reported that Birmingham are keen on signing Joe Gelhardt from Leeds United. The 24‑year‑old striker spent last season on loan at Hull, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists to help Leeds reach the play‑offs. Gelhardt’s top‑flight experience and promotion pedigree could bolster Davies’ side.

The club is also linked with Ireland international Jack Taylor from Ipswich Town. Taylor featured 39 times in the league as the Tractor Boys earned automatic promotion, and he has attracted interest from Derby County and Sheffield United as well as Birmingham.

With multiple clubs monitoring each target, Birmingham City must act ASAP to secure the players before rivals complete their deals, ensuring the squad is ready for a promotion push in the coming season.