Birmingham City set to seal ambitious Ajax transfer agreement | OneFootball

Birmingham City have agreed a deal to sign Chuba Akpom from Ajax.

Birmingham City are closing in on the signing of Ajax striker Chuba Akpom, after the two clubs agreed on a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy if the Blues are promoted.

The Midlands club have already made some huge signings heading into the new season, with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray, and Tommy Doyle just a few of the names arriving at St Andrews @ Knighthead Park this summer.

However, in another statement of intent, Birmingham are now set to sign former Middlesbrough striker Akpom, according to the latest reports from Sky Sports on Sunday morning.

It was reported previously that the two clubs had entered talks over a potential deal for the 29-year-old, with Ajax keen to secure a guaranteed fee for the forward.

However, the latest reports suggest that won't be the case, as a loan deal with an obligation to buy if Birmingham achieve promotion to the Premier League has been agreed between the two parties.

Birmingham City agree Chuba Akpom deal with Ajax

The last time Akpom set foot in the Championship, he enjoyed the best season of his career to date, which certainly revived his stagnating career. He scored 28 times in 38 outings in the second tier, cruising to the 2022-23 Golden Boot, and earning a move to Ajax.

However, his time in Amsterdam is seemingly coming to a close, after falling out of favour at the club and being loaned out to LOSC Lille in the second-half of last season.

Now back at his parent club, Ajax are reportedly keen to move Akpom on permanently this summer, with newly-promoted Birmingham emerging as potential suitors.

The Dutch club reportedly preferred a guaranteed fee for the 29-year-old, but the Blues were instead seeking a loan deal with an obligation to buy, which had the two parties a way off in their negotiations.

However, the latest reports from Sky Sports now suggest that Birmingham have got their way, and are set to sign Akpom on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy, if they gain promotion to the Premier League this season.

The former Arsenal man is now set for a medical with the Second City club, before linking up with his new teammates ahead of Friday's Championship opener against Ipswich Town.

Akpom signing shows clear Birmingham City targets for next season

After a bitterly disappointing first season under the ownership of Knighthead, which saw the club relegated to League One, the owners have a clear view of where they want to be this time next season, and the clause in the Akpom deal shows this.

Whilst it's impossible to predict where Birmingham might finish, last season's success coupled with the business they've completed in the summer window has many thinking the Blues will be near the sharp end of the Championship, which isn't farfetched.

Adding Akpom to their ranks, especially with the obligation to buy if they reach the Premier League, shows exactly what the ownership group are targetting this season, and yet another quality player is set to make the move to St Andrew's.

It's certainly an exciting time to be a Birmingham supporter, and with this latest signing, it's a clear indication of where the club want to be in the coming season.