Birmingham City splash major cash to land fourth winter arrival

Birmingham City have continued their aggressive January recruitment by completing the signing of Danish striker August Priske, making him their fourth addition of the winter transfer window.

The Blues have finalised a deal with Swedish outfit Djurgårdens IF, agreeing a fee believed to be in the region of £6 million to secure the highly rated forward. Priske has committed his future to the club by signing a five-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him at St Andrew’s until the summer of 2031.

Birmingham City have signed striker August Priske

At just 21 years old, Priske arrives with a growing reputation after an outstanding season in Sweden. He finished as top scorer in the Allsvenskan, netting 18 goals in 27 league appearances, and played a key role in Djurgårdens’ impressive domestic campaign. His transfer represents the second-largest sale in the Swedish club’s history, surpassed only by Lucas Bergvall’s move to Tottenham Hotspur 18 months ago.

Birmingham faced stiff competition from clubs across Europe to land the striker but ultimately won the race, underlining their ambition and willingness to invest heavily in the squad. The club’s hierarchy are hopeful Priske can adapt quickly and make an immediate impact in the Championship, where goals remain crucial as the season enters its decisive phase.

Head coach Chris Davies had been keen to add another option at centre-forward, and Priske fits the brief both physically and stylistically. Standing at 6ft 4in, the Danish forward offers a different profile to Birmingham’s existing attacking options and provides a strong alternative to Marvin Ducksch and Kyogo Furuhashi. His presence is expected to add variety to the Blues’ attacking approach, particularly against deep or physical opposition.

Priske is no stranger to the international stage either, having represented Denmark up to under-21 level. He also brings experience of European competition, featuring for Djurgårdens during their memorable run to the Europa Conference League semi-finals last season, where they were eventually eliminated by Chelsea, the tournament’s eventual winners.

The striker becomes the latest arrival in what has been a busy and productive January for Birmingham City. He follows Kai Wagner, Jhon Solis, and Ibrahim Osman through the door, further strengthening a squad that is clearly being reshaped with both the present and future in mind.

With the transfer window still open, Birmingham’s recruitment so far signals serious intent, as the club look to build momentum and push on in the second half of the campaign. Priske’s signing, in particular, stands out as a long-term investment with the potential to deliver immediate rewards if he can translate his prolific scoring form to English football.

The BirminghamLive football team will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the Blues, with reporters Alex Dicken and Brian Dick following the club closely across matches, press conferences, and all key transfer developments.

Birmingham City near shock loan move for £16m Premier League attacker

Birmingham City are reportedly close to signing Brighton & Hove Albion winger Ibrahim Osman on loan. | Getty Images

Birmingham City are reportedly close to completing a somewhat unexpected loan move for a Premier League attacker, with Brighton & Hove Albion winger Ibrahim Osman set to join the Championship side for the remainder of the season.

According to the latest reports, Birmingham and Brighton have reached an agreement over a six-month loan deal that would see the highly rated but still unproven winger arrive at St Andrew’s. The Blues have been keen to strengthen their wide options during the January window, particularly following the departure of Keshi Anderson, and attention has now firmly shifted towards the loan market.

Birmingham had previously attempted to sign Mjällby forward Abdoulie Manneh, but that deal collapsed late on, forcing the club to reassess its options. Turning to Premier League loans has proven effective in the past, most notably with the summer arrival of Patrick Roberts from Sunderland, although such moves inevitably come with an element of risk.

Osman fits that description. While he remains a player of considerable potential, he has yet to establish himself at the highest level and is still regarded as a raw prospect. Despite Brighton’s significant investment in him, he has not yet made a competitive senior appearance for the Seagulls.

A report from The Brighton Base claims Birmingham are “closing in” on securing Osman’s services, with Brighton set to terminate his current loan spell at French side Auxerre before sanctioning a move to the Championship. Auxerre had included an option to buy in their loan agreement, but that clause now appears unlikely to be activated.

The Ghana international joined Brighton in 2024 after a standout period in Denmark with Nordsjaelland, a move that reportedly cost the Premier League club around £16 million. However, his transition to English football has not been straightforward. Last season, Osman spent time on loan at Feyenoord, where he was mostly used as an impact substitute. A similar pattern has followed him in Ligue 1, with limited starts and opportunities to build momentum.

Despite those setbacks, Birmingham will believe there is untapped quality waiting to be unlocked. Osman is comfortable operating on either wing and can also fill in as a central forward if required. That positional flexibility could be particularly valuable for head coach Chris Davies, offering tactical options and added depth in attacking areas.

In addition to his versatility, Osman’s pace and physicality suggest he has the tools to influence games quickly, something Birmingham have occasionally lacked in wide positions. The hope will be that regular minutes in the Championship provide the platform he needs to rediscover confidence and rhythm.

Questions remain about why Osman has yet to fully deliver on his promise since leaving Denmark, but such uncertainty is often part of loan deals involving Premier League clubs. For Birmingham, the gamble lies in whether they can provide the right environment for the winger to flourish.

The Blues will also be mindful of recent mixed experiences with Brighton loanees. Defender Eiran Cashin struggled for game time before being recalled earlier this month, while goalkeeper James Beadle has enjoyed far greater success, cementing himself as the club’s first-choice keeper ahead of Ryan Allsop.

As negotiations continue, Birmingham supporters will be watching closely. Whether Osman proves to be a shrewd addition or another short-term experiment remains to be seen, but the potential upside makes this a deal worth monitoring as the transfer window progresses.