What is Birmingham City's record transfer and whether Tom Wagner's Knighthead could break that before February 2nd | OneFootball

Blues are currently in the midst of a crucial winter transfer window

Birmingham City haven't been afraid to break the bank in the transfer market under the ownership of Knighthead Capital Management, who have laid out several lofty ambitions when it comes to the short and long-term future of the club.

After years of stagnation in the Championship, which would eventually lead to a first stint in League One for three decades, Blues are looking to respond significantly to such turbulence in many remarkable ways, not least the fact there are plans in place for a new 62,000-seater stadium as part of the multi-billion-pound Sports Quarter project, which will be just a stone's throw away from St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Whilst such grand plans have been mooted and then unveiled at great length by Knighthead Capital's frontman and Blues' majority owner, Tom Wagner, the club's current on-pitch state has also generated plenty of intrigue.

After romping to the third tier title in a record-breaking manner under Chris Davies, many anticipated that Birmingham would immediately follow the example set by Ipswich Town between 2023 and 2024, with the Tractor Boys ending their own lengthy hiatus from the Premier League by becoming the first club in 12 years to achieve back-to-back promotions from League One and into the top flight.

However, with this season's Championship looking as competitive as ever before, the Second City outfit are in the midst of a congested battle for the play-off places, with only a matter of points separating those inside the top six and divisional rivals who still find themselves in the bottom half.

As such, a handful of key decisions in the transfer market could give Davies' men a desired advantage in the season's latter stages, albeit the winter window is often one in which money is not spent at anywhere near as great a level by clubs due to a shortened timescale.

However, Football League World have, once again, reminded everybody as to who Birmingham's current record signing is, and debated whether it is likely that Wagner and Co. will part with a greater sum of money between now and 7PM on Monday, February 2nd.

Jay Stansfield is currently Birmingham City's club-record signing

As has been well-documented in the 18-month period that has followed, current Blues and England Under-21 international forward, Jay Stansfield, is the club's record-signing at present.

The 22-year-old initially moved to the West Midlands on loan from Fulham under John Eustace, with the summer window of 2023 proving to be his last in the St. Andrew's dugout and Knighthead's first in the boardroom.

Stansfield went on to score 13 goals across all competitions despite Birmingham's chaotic relegation under several permanent and interim managers, before the club turned the spotlight well and truly on themselves on Deadline Day in August 2024.

Despite interest from clubs higher up the pyramid at the time, as well as Fulham's reluctance to part ways with the former Exeter City man, Blues would end up securing Stansfield's services for a club and League One record eight-figure sum on a bumper seven-year contract.

Reports from Birmingham Live suggested that the deal was between £10m and £20m, but the figure had alternated across an array of media outlets.

Although Birmingham and Stansfield have received plenty of stick from supporters of rival clubs for the significant outlay, the club and player have failed to look back.

Indeed, the Tiverton-born striker scored 24 times across 46 appearances in all competitions last term, and is already Blues' top scorer so far this season despite a handful of injury knocks.

Given the aforementioned contract length and his potential, it is clear that Wagner envisages Stansfield eventually featuring in the Premier League for no one else but his current employers.

Will Birmingham City break their transfer record in the current window?

There has already been plenty of movement in the current window for Blues, although in terms of confirmed deals, more on the outgoings front.

Five players have already exited the club, including Scotland international forward, Lyndon Dykes, whilst claims emerged pre-window that Davies had identified three areas that needed addressing within his squad.

The 40-year-old has already welcomed Kai Wagner from Philadelphia Union in a £2m deal and Colombian midfielder, Jhon Solis, from Girona FC. The latter deal will reportedly see Blues pay the La Liga side an initial loan fee that equates to £430,000, whilst the 21-year-old could sign permanently - either optionally or due to a mandatory appearance-based clause - for approximately £6.9m.

Birmingham have also been heavily linked with Djurgardens' 18-goal striker, August Priske. It was claimed in October by Djurgardens' sporting director, Bosse Andersson, that the 21-year-old's departure would trump the fee which the Stockholm club received from Tottenham Hotspur for Lukas Bergvall's transfer, which was a reported €20m as all bonuses had been triggered.

However, it remains to be seen if that turns out to be the case.

Furthermore, Blues are also chasing FC Basel's Nigerian winger, Philip Otele. However, the Swiss side have reportedly lowered their minimal asking price to €7m amid competition from Wolves, AFC Bournemouth, Celtic and Lazio.