Birmingham City told to seal deal for ex-Burnley star but 'risk' raised | OneFootball

Birmingham City have been urged to try and sign former Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill from Al Shabab.

Birmingham City will be expecting to challenge for at least the top eight and the expanded play-off places in the Championship – and Josh Brownhill would appear the ideal signing to enhance those ambitions.

Having spent heavily in the summer of 2024, following their relegation from the second-tier, Birmingham went on to break all-time EFL points tally as they romped to the League One title.

Sticking by Chris Davies and continuing to be ambitious last year, Birmingham underwhelmed in the Championship, albeit did still manage to finish in the top half of the table.

A quieter summer has ensued, albeit still with some notable additions, and it has been a shakier start to the campaign than City would have liked with draws against Sheffield United and Bristol City before a 6-1 hammering at the hands of Brentford in the EFL Cup.

As the summer window comes to a close and Blues seek to put themselves into a position where they can sustain a promotion challenge, links to Josh Brownhill have certainly got pulses racing in the second city.

Birmingham told to be ‘all over’ Josh Brownhill signing

Having previously captained Preston North End and Bristol City, Josh Brownhill skippered Scott Parker’s Burnley to automatic promotion and 100 points in the 2024-25 campaign.

However, the all-action midfielder opted to leave Turf Moor last summer and move to the Saudi Pro League to sign for Al Shabab, where his current teammates include Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, Daniel Podence, Yacine Adli and Thomas Partey.

There are suggestions, though, that Al Shabab’s number eight is set to depart and return to England with Birmingham one of a number of clubs credited with an interest in the 30-year-old – and his arrival is something that would excite FLW’s Birmingham Fan Pundit Jason Moore.

Jason says: “How can anyone turn up a move for Josh Brownhill, especially in the Championship.

“I thought it was crazy that he didn’t stay in the Premier League but I get it; he went and earned his ‘bags’ over in Saudi.

“If he is coming back to England and Blues can get a move for him then I’d be all over it.

“I’d be interested to see how hungry he is but if he has still got the hunger and he still wants to play and be competitive and get Blues up then I’d be all over it.

“That would be my only concern is how hungry is he after being out in Saudi but if he can still get to that level that he was at at Burnley then, obviously it’s a risk, but it’s a risk you can’t not take.

“If his wages are silly then look elsewhere but I’d be all over it – you can’t turn someone that had the season he had before going to Saudi down.

“Be all over it if you can, Blues!”

Josh Brownhill has been stellar in the Championship

In the 2024-25 season, Burnley had one of the best defensive records anyone has ever had at any level of football anywhere in the world.

Their conservative style, though, did mean a lack of goals but that is where they relied upon the stellar Josh Brownhill, who finished as The Clarets’ top scorer that season in the second-tier with 18 goals from midfield.

In the Championship’s Team of the Season a couple of years earlier under Vincent Kompany and twice in the PFA Team of the Year for the second-tier, Brownhill has proven himself to be the ideal central midfielder for the level.

Combative and defensively aware with an industry and drive to run with and without the ball through the middle of the park as well as a clear eye for goal, the Warrington-born midfielder is a bit of a throwback in terms of his all-action capabilities.

Birmingham are not short of quality experience and leadership but they do not possess someone of the ilk and, perhaps the level of Brownhill – albeit that could be said for most if not all of the division.

They face fierce competition and a deal would surely be difficult to pull off this late given it would surely likely command a transfer fee and also some hefty wages but if City can do the deal then it would be one of the signings of the summer, at least on paper, in the Championship.