Birmingham City’s push for a playoff place appears to be slipping away, and despite their efforts throughout the campaign, it now looks increasingly likely that the club will have to settle for another season in the Championship. After earning promotion in dominant fashion, expectations were high that the Blues could carry that momentum forward and mount a serious challenge for a top-six finish.
Their promotion season under Chris Davies was nothing short of remarkable. The team stormed to the League One title with an incredible 111-point haul, setting a high benchmark and generating optimism among supporters. Following that success, Birmingham approached their return to the second tier with ambition, making it clear they intended to compete immediately rather than simply survive.
The club backed this ambition in the transfer market. Several experienced players such as Demarai Gray, Phil Neumann, and Bright Osayi-Samuel arrived on free transfers, while James Beadle, Patrick Roberts, and Tommy Doyle were brought in on loan deals to strengthen the squad. In addition, Birmingham invested significant money in permanent signings, including Marvin Ducksch, Jack Robinson, and Kyogo Furuhashi.
Kyogo’s arrival, in particular, attracted attention. Signed for around £10 million from French side Stade Rennes, the Japanese forward came with a strong reputation following his impressive spell at Celtic. However, his time at St Andrew’s has not gone as planned. Over the course of the season, his influence has steadily declined, with his minutes on the pitch becoming increasingly limited. This situation prompted the club to re-enter the transfer market in January in an attempt to address their attacking struggles.
One of the key additions during that window was Spanish winger Carlos Vicente, who joined from Deportivo Alavés in a deal worth approximately £7 million. While the signing was seen as a positive move, Vicente’s start to life in English football has been far from smooth. Like Kyogo, he has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter, raising concerns that Birmingham may be repeating the same costly mistake.
Since his move from Spain, Vicente has found it difficult to make a strong impression. The 26-year-old arrived alongside several other January signings, including Jhon Solis, August Priske, Kai Wagner, and Ibrahim Osman, all of whom were brought in to strengthen the squad for the second half of the season. However, the competition for places—particularly in wide positions—has proven to be intense.
With players such as Gray, Osman, and Roberts already competing for roles on the wings, Vicente has not been guaranteed a starting spot. As a result, he has started only four league matches since joining and has often been used as a substitute. In fact, in four of his last five appearances, he has come off the bench, with Patrick Roberts generally preferred on the right-hand side.
Although Vicente has managed to register one goal and one assist, his overall impact has been limited so far. This has understandably left supporters underwhelmed, especially given the significant fee paid for his services. There is now a growing concern that he could follow a similar trajectory to Kyogo if his situation does not improve.
This puts added pressure on Chris Davies, who must ensure that Vicente does not suffer the same fate. While Birmingham benefits from strong financial backing, the club is not immune to the consequences of expensive transfers failing to deliver results.
Kyogo’s situation serves as a clear warning. Despite his £10 million price tag, he has struggled to adapt to the demands of the Championship. He has scored just once and failed to provide any assists in 28 league appearances, with only eight of those coming as starts. Even more concerning is his lack of consistent playing time—he has completed just two full matches all season and has barely featured in recent weeks, accumulating only 16 minutes across the last 11 games. On some occasions, he has not even been included in the matchday squad.
Given these circumstances, a permanent departure in the summer appears highly likely for Kyogo. However, Birmingham will almost certainly be unable to recover anywhere near the fee they originally paid, which would represent a significant financial loss.
The club cannot afford for a similar situation to unfold with Vicente. While he has already contributed more directly to goals than Kyogo, his limited playing time remains a concern. Spending a combined £17 million on two players who are not regular starters is far from ideal, regardless of the club’s financial strength. It also raises questions about squad management and decision-making.
If Chris Davies is unable to get the best out of high-value signings like Kyogo and Vicente, it could cast doubt over his ability to manage larger resources in the future—particularly if Birmingham aspire to reach the Premier League.
Ultimately, it is crucial that Davies finds a way to integrate Vicente more effectively into the team and unlock his potential. Avoiding a repeat of Kyogo’s disappointing spell is not just important for the player, but for the club’s broader ambitions.
