Birmingham City has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, and the buzz surrounding the club is louder than ever. More than 20,000 season tickets have already been sold for the upcoming Championship campaign, with another 14,000 supporters waiting for a chance to join the queue. The area around St Andrew's has turned into a bustling fan park, and the atmosphere is electric.
The club’s leadership has laid out ambitious plans to reconnect the city of Birmingham—England’s second‑largest metropolis—with the football team that carries its name. The aim is to unlock the club’s full potential and to build a foundation that could eventually see the Blues competing in the Premier League. Supporter groups are springing up worldwide, a phenomenon that can be traced back to the high‑profile signing of Tom Brady, and the narrative around the club is now firmly centred on becoming "Premier League ready." Given the aggressive ownership, a fanbase that has been starved of success for years, and the palpable excitement in the air, it is understandable that Birmingham City feels a sense of urgency. Expectations are mounting not only from within the club but also from the broader football community, which now sees Birmingham as a club on the rise.
However, progress in football rarely happens overnight; it requires patience, careful planning, and a willingness to learn from each setback. Looking back, last season can be viewed as a period of consolidation rather than a loss of momentum.
The club’s most recent high point dates back to the 2011‑12 season, when Birmingham qualified for European competition—a far better achievement than the 10th‑place finish the team secured in the 2025‑26 campaign. The contrast highlights how far the club has come and underscores the need for a realistic assessment of its current position. "It was our first season back, which people found hard to remember at times," Birmingham manager Chris Davies told Sky Sports ahead of the season‑opening match against Sheffield United. He was not referring to the supporters—"they have been great"—but to everyone involved in the club’s revival.
Davies carries a great deal of hope and expectation on his shoulders. "One thing I learned is that I can handle the ups and downs," he continued. The previous year had been relatively smooth, as Birmingham clinched the League One title with a record‑breaking 111 points, dominating opponents with a possession‑based style that left little doubt about their superiority.
The step up to the Championship proved far more demanding. "You can read about the Championship, but living it is a completely different experience," Davies admitted. The second tier of English football posed new questions, and the manager’s initial game plan only worked intermittently. In League One, Birmingham’s brand of total football—maintaining roughly 80 % possession and circulating the ball constantly—had been a recipe for success.
"We played very technical football, recruiting smaller, technically gifted players and using that style to control matches," Davies explained. However, the Championship exposed a lack of physical punch, especially in away fixtures, where the team sometimes struggled to impose itself. A promising sign came in the form of a hard‑fought Carabao Cup victory over Swansea, where Birmingham secured a 1‑0 win despite only holding 39 % of possession. The lone goal was scored by August Priske, a robust 22‑year‑old Danish target‑man who joined the club in January and quickly adapted to the higher level.
Priske had also found the net against Barcelona at a packed St Andrew's a month earlier, further cementing his reputation among the fans. "Jhon Solis, Carlos Vicente and August all arrived at the same time, and that six‑month period was their initiation into English football and the Championship. They have all performed exceptionally well," Davies noted. Vicente, a combative Spanish winger, supplied the assist for Priske’s goal against Swansea, while Solis—already a fan favourite—added his own flair in midfield, contributing both creativity and physical presence.
Reflecting on the previous season, Davies concluded that physicality would be a key factor in the club’s next step forward. "The modern game relies heavily on man‑to‑man pressing and set‑piece proficiency.
You need the physical capacity to compete," he said. This philosophy has guided the club’s summer transfer activity. In addition to the winter signings, Birmingham have secured the services of centre‑back Dael Fry, a 6‑ft‑4‑in defender with nearly 300 Championship appearances. The expectation is that his experience and aerial ability will bolster the back line and allow Davies to maintain his possession‑based approach while adding a more pragmatic edge when required.
Davies emphasised that the aim is to augment, not replace, the style he has cultivated. "When a team can keep the ball, it is easier to switch to a more direct or pragmatic approach if needed, rather than being forced to abandon a possession game entirely," he explained. The shift toward a more flexible style began toward the end of the previous campaign. In mid‑April, Birmingham found themselves 17th in the table, but the brief international break gave Davies an opportunity to experiment.
He introduced a more direct approach, focusing on quicker transitions and set‑piece opportunities. The change paid off: the Blues finished the season on a five‑game unbeaten run, securing a top‑10 finish and building confidence heading into the summer. "We have to strike a balance. We don’t want to lose what we are good at, but we also need to improve our pressing and transition play," Davies said.
"Last season, no team in the Championship consistently broke our press, and it was a strength we want to retain." To that end, the club has added specialist set‑piece coach Scott Fry to the backroom staff. Davies believes that dead‑ball situations could be the decisive factor in a promotion push. "We need to score around 70 goals to compete with the top six. We managed 57 last season, so we must find an extra 13," he explained.
He added that a handful of goals from set‑pieces and counter‑attacks could bridge the gap, making the target entirely achievable. The impact of this focus is already evident. Solis scored from a set‑piece against Barcelona, while Priske’s winner at Swansea originated from a dead‑ball routine that saw Vicente deliver the ball into the striker’s path.
These moments illustrate how a well‑drilled set‑piece unit can turn tight games in Birmingham’s favour. Beyond the pitch, the club is undergoing structural changes. Long‑time director of football Craig Gardner has departed, with experienced figure Mike Rigg stepping into a more prominent role. Commercially, Birmingham continues to grow, boasting the highest revenue among Championship clubs without relying on parachute payments.
The atmosphere at the training ground reflects a shift away from flashy slogans toward a leaner, more disciplined mindset. The emphasis is now on continuity, physical resilience, and tactical adaptability. Davies believes the squad is ready to build on the lessons learned from their inaugural Championship season.
"I am confident we can keep progressing," he affirmed. "We just need to keep moving forward and getting stronger." In summary, Birmingham City’s journey from League One champions to a competitive Championship side has been marked by strategic signings, tactical evolution, and a renewed focus on physicality and set‑piece efficiency. With a supportive fanbase, a clear vision from ownership, and a manager willing to adapt, the Blues appear poised to take the next step toward their ultimate goal of Premier League promotion.