The Birmingham Courier
Market31 Aug 2026
Christoph Klarer asks to leave Birmingham
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Carlos Vicente runs at them all day
Successful dribbles: 26. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Ibrahim Osman in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Birmingham this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Market31 Aug 2026
Pontedera watching Marvin Ducksch
The interest is real enough to have reached print. Birmingham have said nothing, which in a transfer window is its own kind of answer.
Squad31 Aug 2026
No hiding place for James Beadle
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to James Beadle, and the manager let it.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Demarai Gray in the eights
A performance of 8.53 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
One of those days for Patrick Roberts
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.40, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Match29 Aug 2026
Birmingham share the spoils with Sheffield
A 1‑1 draw with Sheffield leaves the dressing room somewhere between relief and regret.
Market31 Aug 2026
Birmingham bring in Pape Matar Sarr on loan
A season-long audition: Tottenham still own him, but the shirt and the minutes are Birmingham's to give. A loan is a bet both clubs believe they are winning.
In brief
- Squad Demarai Gray finally opens his account
- Player ratings Kyogo Furuhashi leaves them behind him
- Squad Christoph Klarer has company in his position