Birmingham City 2026/27 Championship preview
Birmingham City spent heavily last season and still finished nowhere near the play-offs. Chris Davies now has a squad built for promotion, and no more excuses.
Birmingham finished 10th in the 2025/26 Championship on 64 points. That left them nine points adrift of Hull City in sixth. Their record read 17 wins, 13 draws and 16 defeats, with a goal difference of just +1.
The underlying numbers were similarly flat. Birmingham scored 57 goals and conceded 56. No side in the top half won fewer matches, although Bristol City matched their tally of 17.
January brought a serious response. Carlos Vicente arrived from Deportivo Alaves, August Priske joined from Djurgarden and Patrick Roberts signed permanently from Sunderland. None of it lifted Birmingham up the table.
Davies has been quieter this summer. Jhon Solis has completed a permanent switch from Girona after an encouraging loan spell. Dael Fry has arrived from Middlesbrough on a free transfer. James Beadle has extended his loan from Brighton and Hove Albion for another year.
Two forwards have gone the other way. Kyogo Furuhashi has joined LA Galaxy after one league goal in 35 Championship appearances. Kai Wagner has returned to Philadelphia Union, taking a big chunk of Birmingham’s set-piece delivery with him.
Bookmakers make Birmingham fifth favourites for the title at 14/1 with bet365. West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley and Middlesbrough all sit ahead of them.
Birmingham City predicted lineup 2026/27
Davies used a 4-2-3-1 in every one of Birmingham’s final matches last season, and the shape looks settled.
Christoph Klarer is the one certainty, having started 43 league games. Tomoki Iwata anchors midfield after 42 starts, with Solis alongside him. Jay Stansfield operates behind the striker, where he produced 10 goals and six assists.
Birmingham City (4-2-3-1): Beadle; Osayi-Samuel, Fry, Klarer, Cochrane; Iwata, Solis; Carlos Vicente, Stansfield, Gray; Ducksch.

Birmingham City’s set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Jay Stansfield
- Free-kicks: Demarai Gray
- Corners: Alex Cochrane
Birmingham City FAQs
Where did Birmingham City finish in the 2025/26 Championship season?
Birmingham finished 10th in the Championship in 2025/26, ending the campaign on 64 points from 46 games.
Who is the Birmingham City manager?
Chris Davies is the Birmingham manager.
Who was Birmingham City’s top scorer in 2025/26?
Jay Stansfield and Marvin Ducksch shared top spot with 10 Championship goals each. Stansfield did it in 41 starts, Ducksch in 25.