Why Bright Osayi-Samuel has joined Birmingham City - Tom Wagner played a key role | OneFootball

Birmingham have confirmed the arrival of Bright Osayi-Samuel as their latest summer signing

Bright Osayi-Samuel has credited the ambition of owner Tom Wagner as a key reason why he made the switch to Birmingham City.

Blues have confirmed the arrival of the Nigerian full-back following his exit from Fenerbahce at the end of his contract in Türkiye.

Osayi-Samuel made the move to Istanbul in January 2021, departing QPR after a successful three-and-a-half years at Loftus Road, and he went on to gain a lot of valuable experience playing at a top flight level under the likes of Jorge Jesus and Jose Mourinho.

He also competed at a European level for the club, featuring in the UEFA Europa League and Conference League - but he's traded that for a return to the Championship.

Bright Osayi-Samuel opens up on Birmingham City move and credits Tom Wagner for his ambition

Osayi-Samuel has claimed that Birmingham owner Tom Wagner and the head coach Chris Davies have both convinced him of the project being built at St. Andrew's.

He believes their ambitions are to compete in the Premier League, and he wants to help them achieve that goal and play at the highest possible level.

“I think it’s the project,” Osayi-Samuel told the club's official website as to why he opted to join City.

“I spoke to the owner, I spoke to the manager, and it’s a project with ambitions about what they want to do.

“Of course they did well last season getting promoted, and the ambition is not just to compete, but to get straight to the Premier League.

“Those are my ambitions too.

“I want to play in the Premier League and show everyone what I can do, and I think Birmingham City are giving me a platform to showcase that so I think those are the main reasons I decided to come here.”

Birmingham City's summer transfer business is one of an ambitious Championship club

Birmingham are preparing for life back in the Championship, and will be hoping to fight at the top end of the table straight away.

The Blues have already completed deals for previous loanees Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Alfons Sampsted, and have welcomed former player Demarai Gray back on a three-year deal from Al-Ettifaq.

Phil Neumann has also joined the club after agreeing a pre-contract deal earlier in the year, Brighton goalkeeper James Beadle has signed on loan, and so has Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle.

Osayi-Samuel signing for Birmingham shows their intent, bringing someone in with plenty of European football experience to a Championship side.

Being able to sign the Nigeria international as a free agent could prove very smart business by Blues, who are certainly going about the transfer window in an ambitious manner.

The 27-year-old will provide strong competition for game time to Ethan Laird, and will give Davies flexible options that he can use throughout the campaign.

His comments about the ambition of the club will be exciting for supporters, and show that there are a lot of resources being put into growing the team.