What Birmingham City star Carlos Vicente actually does away from the pitch | OneFootball

Carlos Vicente has revealed how he has settled in at Birmingham City and what he is doing away from the pitch at St. Andrew's...

Birmingham City were extremely active in the transfer market during the 2025/26 Championship season, including bringing in Carlos Vicente from La Liga side Deportivo Alaves.

The Spaniard can operate as a winger or attacking midfielder, and he has scored three and assisted one in his first 15 appearances for Birmingham City. In total, he has 17 goal involvements this term, having scored 10 and assisted three in Spain.

However, the signings have not been enough to get Birmingham into the play-off picture. After a record-breaking promotion, they are set for a mid-table finish and are one of 11 sides to have confirmed their place in the 2026/27 season.

There is still plenty to play for in terms of their final position, with Chris Davies' side not bettering 17th in the Championship since finishing 10th back in 2015/16. That has to be their goal in the final three games, especially with two of the fixtures being home matches.

Vicente and co. have been strong at St. Andrew's, with just three defeats all season and the fifth-best home form in the division overall. In fact, he scored in their last home outing against Wrexham.

Carlos Vicente reveals his feelings on Birmingham City and the Premier League

It's fair to say not all of the signings have quite hit the ground running as many had hoped, but perhaps a season of adaptation is required before a stronger campaign in 2026/27 instead.

For Vicente, he will be expected to be a key player as one of the most creative and clinical individuals in the squad. He can be a match-winner at this level and is coming into his prime at the age of 26.

Settling into life in England after nine years of senior football in Spain is perhaps one factor, and AS published an interview with Vicente to discuss several topics, including his move to Birmingham. When asked about his adaptation to England, he said: “Very well. The club has done everything possible to help me during these months.

“Although we’ve gone through a rough patch both collectively and personally, I already feel very comfortable. My life here is very quiet, and I dedicate myself to training, resting, eating well, reading, and studying.”

Vicente still continues to dream of making it to the Premier League as well, adding: “This season, yes, but it’s still my biggest dream. It was one of the reasons I chose to come here.

“If I didn’t know the club had that objective, I probably would have made a different decision. We have a good foundation to try and make the leap next season.”

The Carlos Vicente outlay has to pay off for Birmingham

Vicente arriving at the club on a likely high wage is a calculated gamble that has to pay off, rather than one that merely might. Per estimations, Vicente is now the highest paid player for Birmingham.

Players of his technical quality and attacking output are rarely available to Championship clubs without significant financial outlay, so his signing reflects clear intent from Tom Brady and co. but that is why it simply must pay off.

Birmingham are effectively betting that Vicente’s ceiling is well above the division, and if that proves true, he has to become a decisive difference-maker in tight games consistently next term. That means turning draws into wins to break into the top six at least.

With high wages comes expectation. In that sense, Vicente is not just another addition, but an investment that must actively drive success to validate its cost. Parachute payment clubs can afford such an outlay but the sustainability of such a model will become clearer in time.

It's why Birmingham fans will be relieved to know Vicente is now settling in and that the very best of him is likely to come next season.