Birmingham City have made a number of high-profile signings throughout their history, including the likes of City legend Alex Govan, as well as more recent signings such as Ivan Šunjić and the Spaniard Jota.
Šunjić, Jota and Nikola Zigic rank among the most expensive Bimingham signings of all time. And although Blues have attracted their fair share of top players over the years, not every deal has been concluded.
In recent years, despite languishing in the bottom half of the Championship, Blues have been linked with some huge names, including La Liga and Premier League title winners and Brazilian stars.
Ahead of the summer transfer window, which will inevitably mean more rumours circulating online and a list of players linked with the club, BirminghamWorld has been looking back in time at moves that weren’t quite pulled off.
With that in mind, here are eight players who were on the verge of joining Blues but failed to put pen to paper - and the reasons the transfers never happened.
1. Diego Costa
Blues were linked with a shock transfer for the Premier League and La Liga title winner Diego Costa just last season. It was reported in May 2022 that Blues would make a move for the former Spanish international if a takeover of the club was completed, but as we know, the club are still under the ownership of BSHL so it didn’t materialise
2. Pato backed to join Blues
Last year, South American football expert Phil Vickery backed Birmingham City to complete a shock swoop for ex-AC Milan star Alexandre Pato. Blues were in the hunt to sign the 33-year-old last year when he was a free agent but the club never made a move for the former Brazil forward, who was once rated as one of the best young strikers in the world Photo: Miguel Schincariol
3. Lee Bowyer
Blues were strongly linked with a deal to bring Bowyer to St Andrew’s in 2005, shortly after his on-field bust-up with Newcastle teammate Kieron Dyer. When Blues were linked with Bowyer, Birmingham fans successfully protested against the midfielder’s signing because of his controversial past. The deal fell through in 2005, but Bowyer did eventually join City three years later and ended up helping the club to win the 2011 League Cup. Of course, he also went on to manage Blues
4. Kenny Miller
Birmingham were close to signing Scottish striker Kenny Miller from Rangers in 2011. Rangers accepted a £650,000 offer for their forward but Miller ended up rejecting a move to St Andrew’s with the forward’s agent saying he wanted to move abroad. Miller ended up joining Turkish side Bursaspor