Exclusive: How Aston Villa legend has reacted to Birmingham City's Tommy Doyle coup | OneFootball

FLW exclusively reported that Blues were set to sign the Wolves midfielder on loan.

Birmingham City have signed Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

Considered by many to be a Premier League standard player, this move by Chris Davies' Blues has properly shown their intent to challenge at the top end of the Championship next season.

Football League World exclusively broke the news that Doyle, who was also reportedly wanted by Sunderland and fellow second-tier newcomers Wrexham, was headed for St Andrew's.

They will have the option to buy the 23-year-old from Wolves next summer for a fee of around £10 million, if they want to, according to Alan Nixon.

Lee Hendrie dishes out Birmingham praise for securing Tommy Doyle coup

You know it's a brilliant move by Birmingham when a mainstay of their rivals, Aston Villa, admits so.

Lee Hendrie, who spent much of his career at Villa Park, spoke exclusively to FLW and said that the former Manchester City youngster will be able to show his Premier League pedigree under Davies next term.

"I think it's been a great signing for Birmingham, Tommy Doyle," admitted the Sky Sports pundit. "I just think that he's got potential to really stand out next season.

"I don't think he's had enough game time. I think he'll get plenty of game time at Birmingham, I really do, and I think he'll show that he's more than capable of really taking the Championship by storm, really, and pushing on for the future.

"I do feel he's got potential and probably should be playing in the Premier League, but I think when you're not playing, you're not getting game time.

"This is his opportunity to really show that he's worth that, and really go and kick on this season at Birmingham. I think it's been a great signing for them."

Birmingham City are stamping down their Championship intentions

It has to be admitted that Blues, at least on the face of it, have pulled off a stunner by securing Doyle's services for the 25/26 campaign.

All transfers bring with them an element of risk, but Doyle is one of those that you'd be amazed if he didn't at least hold his own in the second tier, especially since he's already been involved in one promotion from the Championship with Sheffield United in 22/23.

Birmingham haven't stopped since then. If anything, their transfer push has been ramped up. They've followed up their move for the Wolves centre-midfielder by announcing the return of Demarai Gray. Right-back option Bright Osayi-Samuel has also come aboard.

Further attacking reinforcements are being worked on, as Blues order up a double-dose of Japanese forwards in the form of Kyogo Furuhashi and Kanya Fujimoto respectively.

Deals for the Asian pair are reportedly close to completion, as FLW's sister publication, GIVEMESPORT, have reported.

Doyle's arrival just looks like a sign of things to come.