Here we have looked at the four Birmingham City players set to leave next summer for free if nothing changes.
Birmingham City’s 13-year stay in the Championship has now come to an end, as the club have been relegated to League One.
The 2023/24 season was a disastrous one for the Blues for so many different reasons, as changes in the dugout led to poor performances on the pitch, which in the end resulted in the club’s relegation.
Birmingham were slowly sucked into a relegation fight as results started to turn midway through the campaign, and even with different managers in charge, the club was unable to turn it around and finished third from bottom, a point away from safety.
So, that now means the club has to prepare for life in League One, and while it is understandable that all focus will be on this summer and what happens in the upcoming season, long-term decisions may also need to be made.
Some Birmingham players are now entering the final 12 months of their contract at the club, so here at Football League World, we have decided to look at how many players are set to leave next summer if nothing changes…
Juninho Bacuna
Birmingham City signed Juninho Bacuna in January 2022 from Scottish giants Rangers, with the midfielder signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.
The 26-year-old hasn’t signed a contract extension since, meaning that his deal with the Blues will now expire in the summer of 2025.
Since joining Birmingham City, Bacuna has been a regular in the side, playing 17 times in his first six months at the club.
Then in his next two full seasons, the midfielder played 43 times in the league in the 2022/23 season, followed by 45 games in the campaign just gone.
In fact, the 2023/24 campaign was Bacuna’s best to date in a Birmingham shirt, as he scored seven goals and chipped in with six assists.
It remains to be seen if he will still be at the club for next season, but if he is and a new deal isn’t agreed, he could walk away for nothing next summer.
Jordan James
Jordan James is another midfielder at Birmingham City whose contract is coming to an end.
The 19-year-old is a product of the club’s academy, having come through the youth set-up and the under-18s before playing for the first team.
James first appeared for the club in the 2021/22 season, and that importance has grown since, appearing 33 times in the Championship last season before playing 42 times in the 2023/24 campaign.
He has become such an important player for the club in recent months, and his performances for the club haven’t gone unnoticed, as there has been plenty of talk about transfer interest.
Serie A side Atalanta have been heavily linked with the midfielder, with them even making a bid for the Welshman in January.
West Ham and Wolves have also emerged with interest in the player in recent days, so given Birmingham’s relegation, a move could be on the cards this summer.
However, if not, James’ contract does expire next summer, but the club does have the option to extend that by 12 months if they need to.
Koji Miyoshi
Koji Miyoshi, who joined the team in 2023, is the next player whose contract is about to expire.
After signing a two-year contract in 2023 while on a free transfer from Royal Antwerp, Miyoshi still had a year remaining on it.
The 27-year-old just finished his debut season in English football, and despite Birmingham’s relegation, the offensive midfielder had a good season.
Throughout his 43 league games, Miyoshi ended with six goals and six assists. He was a consistent member of the team when healthy.
Like many of these Birmingham players, it’s unclear right now whether he’ll be sticking with the team in League
Keshi Anderson
Keshi Anderson is the last player at Birmingham City whose contract expires in 2025.
Throughout his career, the 29-year-old has played extensively for teams in the EFL, including Bolton, Swindon Town, and Blackpool.Anderson was put on trial by the Blues last summer, and he performed well enough in the preseason to be awarded a two-year deal.
On a personal note, the player’s first season with Birmingham City wasn’t the finest; he only appeared in 20 Championship games due to injury that sidelined him for a significant portion of the campaign.
In all those games, he did not register a goal, but he did record two assists. Given his background, Anderson might be someone who the club decides to keep.
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