Football League World
·13 July 2024
Birmingham City: Krystian Bielik drops “massive” claim after signing new contract
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Football League World
·13 July 2024
Krystian Bielik has backed the Birmingham City project following latest contract development
Krystian Bielik has thrown his support project being built at Birmingham City following his new contract.
The midfielder has put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at St. Andrew’s as the team prepares for life in League One.
The Poland international has committed his future to the Blues until the summer of 2027.
The 26-year-old featured 36 times in the Championship last season, but was unable to help Birmingham avoid relegation to League One on the final day of the campaign (all stats from Fbref).
However, he is set to stay with the Midlands outfit, as they prepare to fight for promotion straight back to the second tier at the first attempt in 2025 under Chris Davies.
Bielik has outlined why he has committed his future to Birmingham, crediting the project being built with the new manager in charge.
He also issued a message to fans urging them to back the team in the league next season, as their support will be needed to help their promotion push.
“Obviously I was very upset [with] what happened on the last day of the season, and I wasn’t sure what to do,” said Bielik, via the club’s YouTube channel.
“But then, when I met the manager Chris Davies, I had a good chat with him.
“He showed me the way we will want to play.
“I always said that I believe in the project, which is massive, and I’ve seen we’ve sold around 17,000 [season] tickets this season, and I think there will be plenty more because we are going to need them like never.
“But I think when they say we’re going to play, it’s going to be so enjoyable, I think.
“It won’t be easy.
“If there are some people who think it’s going to be easy, then they don’t know anything about football.
“League One is a tough league, and there will be moments where we’re going to need fans behind us.
“But, us players, we’re going to deliver.”
Bielik initially signed for Birmingham on loan from Derby County in the summer of 2022, before making the permanent switch to St. Andrew’s in 2023.
During his two seasons with the club, he has featured 71 times in the league, and helped them finish 17th in that first campaign.
A 22nd-place finish in his second term saw the team relegated to the third tier of English football, where they haven’t competed since 1995.
Davies will now be looking to guide the team back to the Championship at the first attempt, having been appointed earlier this summer.
Birmingham have been busy this summer in their bid to assemble a side capable of earning a top two spot in League One next season.
But keeping someone of Bielik’s quality in the squad is as important as any potential signing.
The Poland international will be key to Davies’ midfield plans, and tying him down until 2027 means he could be a key part of the side if they gain immediate promotion to the Championship in 2025 as well.