Tom Wagner reacts as Pep Clotet issues emotional Birmingham City message | OneFootball

Pep Clotet was in attendance for Birmingham's friendly clash against Barcelona

Birmingham City are preparing for their second season back in the Championship this summer.

The Blues finished 10th under Chris Davies in their first campaign since gaining promotion from League One in 2025.

The Midlands outfit have invested heavily in the first team squad under Knighthead Capital, a group led by Tom Wagner, in the last couple of years.

And their ambition will be to lead Birmingham back to the Premier League for the first time since 2011.

The Championship side have confirmed five signings this summer, as they set their sights on a top eight finish.

And their preparations for the new campaign even saw them host Barcelona in a major pre-season friendly, with a lot of familiar faces in attendance, such as Jude Bellingham and Pep Clotet.

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Clotet, who was manager at Birmingham during the 2019/20 campaign, has posted an emotional message following his attendance at the club’s friendly against Barcelona.

The 49-year-old has claimed that returning to St. Andrew’s has reminded him why he fell in love with football, and he praised the relationship the club have with its fans and its history.

“Some places remind you why you fell in love with football,” wrote Clotet, via Instagram.

“Returning to St Andrew’s was a reminder that football clubs are built on much more than results.

“They honour their history, embrace their community and never stop building for the future.

“Walking around St Andrew’s, it was impossible not to notice how Birmingham City continues to evolve while staying true to its identity.

“Reconnecting with familiar faces made the evening even more special.

“Congratulations to the owners, staff, players, supporters and everyone working behind the scenes.

“Progress like this never happens by accident—it comes from vision, hard work and people who care deeply about the club.

“Football changes, but the values that make great clubs successful and meaningful never do.

“Thank you for the warm welcome.

“Keep Right On.”

Clotet departed Birmingham in July 2020 following a defeat to Swansea City in the club’s fifth game back from the pandemic-forced break.

Wagner reacted to the Spaniard’s message by giving it a like, with the American becoming a popular figure at St. Andrew’s due to his investment into Birmingham in the last couple of years.

The Blues are in the process of building a new 62,000-seater stadium as part of Knighthead Capital’s investment into the club.

Birmingham have also spent heavily on the first team squad since Wagner became involved, even breaking the League One transfer record to sign Jay Stansfield for £15 million in 2024.

Birmingham City’s summer signings

Birmingham have continued to invest in their team this summer, completing five deals with the season still a couple of weeks from getting underway.

Jhon Solis has joined on a permanent basis following his loan spell in the second half of the previous campaign.

Luis Vazquez, Kristoffer Lund and Dael Fry have all joined on a permanent basis, while James Beadle has returned for another loan stint with Davies’ side.

Birmingham will begin the new Championship season with a clash against Sheffield United on 15 August.

Barcelona friendly was a great occasion for Birmingham

The friendly with Barcelona was an exciting occasion for fans ahead of the new season, with the two sides drawing 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Goals from August Priske and Solis helped Davies’ side put on a creditable display against one of the biggest clubs in world football.

And the atmosphere both at the game, and surrounding the stadium before and after kick-off, clearly had an impact on Clotet upon his return to St. Andrew’s.

Birmingham will be hoping that it won’t be too much longer before they play Barcelona in a more competitive setting, such is the ambition being discussed by Wagner.