Birmingham and Celtic have dodged £900k transfer bullet at QPR’s expense | OneFootball

Birmingham City and Celtic may have dodged a bullet after missing out on Kwame Poku to Queens Park Rangers

Queens Park Rangers enjoyed a solid transfer window with a limited budget, as the R's are still awaiting the impact of a player they signed last summer, who, at the time, was viewed as a real coup for the West London outfit.

QPR will be harnessing ambitions of breaking into the newly revamped Championship top eight this season under the guidance of head coach Julien Stephan, and recently enjoyed a solid transfer window to boost their chances.

Dennis Cirkin, Tariq Lamptey, and Boy Kemper arrived on free transfers; Glenn Kamara and Pierce Charles arrived on loan, whilst Calum Ward joined for a minimal fee from Motherwell to provide competition between the sticks.

It has proven to be, on the face of it, a highly cost-effective window for the R's, having spent a hefty amount last season, as the club still awaits the impact of a previously highly sought-after player over a year after his arrival.

Queens Park Rangers paid Peterborough United a £900k compensation fee for Kwame Poku in June 2025

Action Images

Last summer, upon assuming the helm at Loftus Road, Stephan looked to reinforce his attacking options and sanctioned the additions of the likes of Koki Saito, Richard Kone, Rumarn Burrell, Karamoko Dembélé, and Kwame Poku.

Poku, 25, was coming off the back of an excellent campaign in League One with Peterborough United, scoring 12 and assisting eight in just 27 league games for the Posh, predominantly from the right flank.

Only a hamstring injury limited his games, as the winger would allow his contract to run down in Cambridgeshire, as QPR would pay around £900k in compensation to bring him to the capital, which, at the time, was viewed as a real coup for the club, having fended off heavy interest from elsewhere to secure his services.

Kwame Poku has failed to have a positive impact upon his move to Queens Park Rangers amid previous interest from Birmingham City and Celtic

Action images

Before choosing to sign for QPR, Poku weighed up options from elsewhere.

Football League World exclusively reported that Birmingham City were willing to offer Poku in excess of £30k-per-week to lure the winger to the Second City back in April 2025, as FLW would further exclusively report that Ipswich Town would join Birmingham and Celtic in the race for his signature.

However, Poku would have his heart on a switch to the capital, but since joining the R's, he has yet to have anywhere close to the desired impact.

Riddled with numerous injury woes, Poku played less than 500 league minutes across 16 Championship appearances last season, whilst competition on the flanks also proved to limit his game time.

In 22 appearances across all competitions thus far, Poku has yet to contribute directly to a goal for Stephan's side; as though time is on his side, he has certainly not been worth the investment as yet; Birmingham and Celtic may well be relieved they missed out on his signature now.

Why Birmingham City and Celtic rivalled Queens Park Rangers for Kwame Poku

Action images

Poku came through the ranks at Colchester United and made 75 appearances for the U's across all competitions, scoring six and assisting eight, as Peterborough do what they do best and spotted the forward's potential, bringing him to the club in the summer of 2021.

It would take the winger a couple of years to get up to scratch in League One, but with 27 goals and 23 assists in 101 games in the third tier, Poku has directly contributed to a goal just shy of every other game in the division, and in theory, should have little problem adapting to the Championship.

On a free transfer, with a mere £900k in compensation, the once-capped Ghanaian international appeared as a no-brainer for numerous clubs, including Birmingham and Celtic, who both made their interest in Poku known.

As it happened, the Blues and the Bhoys may well be relieved they didn't win the race for his signature now, after his injury woes and lack of impact, as QPR still await to see the player they saw at Peterborough.

Julien Stephan will be hoping for Kwame Poku's impact at Queens Park Rangers sooner rather than later

Action Images

Stephan has not yet lost faith in Poku despite his injury difficulties, with the winger having already made five Championship appearances this season prior to QPR's home clash with Preston North End.

However, he has yet to show why he was so highly sought after some 18 months ago, as Stephan will be urging the Ghanaian to make an impact sooner rather than later.

Still just 25, time is on Poku's side, though after a year of struggles and now seemingly back to fitness, it's time he reminds everyone of his undoubted ability before his career begins to fade.