Birmingham City has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent months, and the excitement surrounding the club is palpable. Over 20,000 season tickets have already been sold for the upcoming Championship campaign, with another 14,000 fans on a waiting list, while fan zones now line the perimeter of St Andrew's. The atmosphere around the stadium feels like a festival, reflecting a renewed sense of optimism.
The club’s leadership has laid out ambitious plans to re‑link England’s second city with the football team that carries its name, aiming to unlock the full potential of both the club and the community. Supporter groups are sprouting across the globe, a phenomenon that can be traced back to the high‑profile arrival of Tom Brady, and the conversation everywhere is about building a side that can compete at Premier League level. With an eager ownership group and a fan base that has been starved of success for years, it is only natural that Birmingham City feels a sense of urgency.
The buzz creates expectations not just within the club but also among rivals and neutral observers. Yet, even the most enthusiastic supporters understand that sustainable progress takes time. Looking back, last season may have been less about losing momentum and more about giving the club a chance to catch its breath.
To put the recent performance into perspective, you have to travel back to the 2011‑12 season, when Birmingham were still playing European football, to find a higher league finish than the 10th‑place result achieved in 2025‑26. "It was our first season back, which people found hard to remember at times," Birmingham manager Chris Davies told Sky Sports before 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 weight of hopes and aspirations on his shoulders. "One thing I learned is that I can handle the pressure," he continued.
"I can cope with the highs and the lows." The lows were few, as Birmingham clinched the League One title with a record‑breaking 111 points, dominating matches with a possession‑based style that left opponents chasing shadows. The step up to the Championship proved far more demanding. "You can study the Championship, but feeling it is a completely different experience," Davies admitted. The second tier of English football posed questions that the club had never faced before, and the original game plan – what he calls Plan A – only worked intermittently.
When asked about the transition, Davies explained: "In League One we played total football, keeping the ball 80 percent of the time and circulating it constantly. That approach worked because we controlled games from start to finish.
In the Championship we tried to bring in technically skilled, smaller players to replicate that style. Some matches we looked good, but others we lacked the physical punch, especially away from home." The early signs of adaptation came in a hard‑fought Carabao Cup victory over Swansea, where Birmingham scored the only goal while holding just 39 percent of possession. The win demonstrated that the Blues were beginning to add new dimensions to their play. The match‑winner was August Priske, a robust 22‑year‑old Danish target‑man who joined in January and has already shown his worth in the Championship.
He also scored the opening goal in a recent friendly against Barcelona at a packed St Andrew's, endearing himself to the fans. "Jhon Solis, Carlos Vicente and August all arrived at the same time," Davies said. "Those six months they have had together have been an apprenticeship in English football and the Championship.
They are now ready to contribute fully, and they have all performed admirably." Vicente, a combative Spanish winger, supplied the assist for Priske’s Swansea goal, while Solis – a Colombian midfielder who also found the net against Barcelona – adds a physical presence in the middle of the park. Their integration illustrates the blend of technical skill and grit that Davies is trying to forge. Reflecting on the previous campaign, Davies highlighted the importance of physicality: "To take the next step we need to be stronger.
Modern football is about man‑to‑man pressing and set‑piece dominance. You need the athletic capacity to sustain that intensity." That philosophy has guided the club’s summer transfer activity.
In addition to the winter signings, Birmingham have secured 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 allow him to slot straight into the back line. Davies is not looking to overhaul the identity he has built; rather, he wants to add layers to it. "When a team can keep the ball, it is easier to switch to a more pragmatic or direct approach if needed," he explained.
"A side that only knows how to play direct football would struggle to dominate possession, but a possession‑based side can adapt when the situation demands it." The shift toward a more flexible style began toward the end of last season. In mid‑April Birmingham were languishing in 17th place, but during the international break Davies experimented with a more direct approach, focusing on quicker transitions and set‑piece opportunities.
"I started thinking about being a little bit more flexible with our shape and positioning, emphasizing direct play, faster transitions and, where possible, more set‑pieces. We finished the season that way," he said.
The gamble paid off: Birmingham closed the campaign with a five‑game unbeaten run, securing a top‑10 finish and building belief for the summer. Davies stresses balance.
"We don’t want to lose what we are good at – our pressing. No team in the Championship last season consistently played through our press, and it was a real weapon for us." He also wants to refine what happens after the ball is won.
"Ideally we can use that pressure as a weapon, moving the ball forward a little quicker and winning more set‑pieces," he added. That strategic emphasis on dead‑ball situations is reflected in the club’s off‑field appointments. Birmingham have hired specialist set‑piece coach Scott Fry, tasked with improving the team’s scoring from corners and free‑kicks. Davies believes that capitalising on these moments could be the difference between a solid season and a promotion challenge.
The impact is already evident. Solis scored a goal from a set‑piece against Barcelona, while Priske’s winner at Swansea followed a corner that Vicente delivered into the box.
"We need to score around 70 goals to compete with the top six," Davies noted, pointing out that the leading clubs each hit that mark, whereas Birmingham managed 57 last season. The objective now is to find those missing 13 goals.
"If we can get six or seven from set‑pieces and a couple from counter‑attacks, we only need a few more from open play. That is entirely achievable," he said. The players are now more seasoned in the Championship environment.
"It wasn’t just me; several players had never played at this level before. Now they have 40 games under their belts and know what it’s like to travel to places like Millwall," Davies observed.
At the training ground, Davies has stripped away the buzzwords that once adorned the walls. The focus is on simplicity and efficiency – a leaner, meaner squad that reflects the club’s new ethos. Continuity is becoming a hallmark, and the belief is that this Birmingham side is ready to push forward.
While director of football Craig Gardner has departed, the club has leaned on the experience of Mike Rigg to maintain stability. Commercially, Birmingham continues to grow, boasting the highest revenue among Championship clubs without relying on parachute payments.
Having weathered a period of turbulence and then stabilised, the next chapter beckons for Birmingham City. The mood is one of confidence and determination. "I am confident we can keep progressing.
The key is to keep moving forward and getting stronger," Davies concluded, encapsulating the ambition that now drives the Blues toward a brighter future.