The bold Birmingham City transfer hijack over Sheffield United that could land ex-PL defender

Birmingham City are carrying some serious momentum as they gear up for the start of the new Championship season. They stormed to the League One title last season at the first time of asking and smashed the record points tally in the process. The Blues ended up getting promoted along with Wrexham and Charlton Athletic.

Chris Davies’ side kick-start the 2025/26 campaign with a tricky home clash against Ipswich Town on Friday night. They will be looking to start with a win in front of their own supporters. Their upcoming opponents were relegated from the Premier League recently along with Leicester City and Southampton.

Birmingham City should hijack Sheffield United move for Ben Godfrey

It has been a frustrating window so far for Sheffield United following their play-off final loss to Sunderland at Wembley back in May. They have recently missed out on a deal for striker Oli McBurnie to Hull City and have had to go back to the drawing board. The Blades’ new boss Ruben Selles was sacked by the Tigers in June as he looks to prove a point at Bramall Lane now after stepping into Chris Wilder’s shoes.

Birmingham should try and heap more misery on the South Yorkshire club and try and hijack their move for Atalanta centre-back Ben Godfrey. According to Football Insider, Selles’ side are lining up a bid for him as they aim for more acquisitions. However, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to lure him in at this stage.

Godfrey, 27, is facing an uncertain future in Italy and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him move on for a fresh start somewhere else, possibly back in England. He was loaned out to Ipswich back in January and played five matches for the Tractor Boys, three of which came in the top flight, as they were relegated from the Premier League. Prior to his switch to Portman Road, he played only once in Serie A and desperately needed to depart to get some minutes.

The York-born man rose into York City’s academy as a youngster before he was snapped up by Norwich City. He spent four years at Carrow Road and was a hit for the Canaries. Everton signed him in 2020 and he went on to play 93 games for the Toffees before heading out the exit door for a fresh start abroad.

Why Ben Godfrey would suit Birmingham City

Birmingham are looking to sign another centre-back, and Godfrey would certainly fit the bill. He is experienced, has played at the top level and knows the league already. If he joined the Blues, he would give them more competition and depth at the back which would come in very handy for Davies.

Davies has a few different players to pick from in that department already including Christoph Klarer, who has been a hit since joining around 12 months ago. They have also delved into the market to acquire Phil Neumann and Eiran Cashin from Hannover 96 and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively over recent times. However, Godfrey would provide further cover and getting could free up Krystian Bielik to potentially find a new home.

Klarer and Neumann have never in the Championship before, whilst Bielik has been relegated twice now. Cashin was a shrewd acquisition and caught the eye during his Derby County days. Godfrey would be the final missing piece in the jigsaw and would fill the gap left by Grant Hanley’s exit.

Birmingham’s recruitment has been spot on since they dropped into League One. They have taken more care with signings and have brought in the right people. Godfrey had to get out of his comfort zone to join Atalanta which shows his character. He has said in an interview: “As an English lad, to go abroad and things not go your way, that is deep water. I was chucked in the deep end but I back myself to get through and move forward.”

Slipping into the third tier was a blessing in disguise for Birmingham. It allowed them to start again with a clean slate and get into a habit of winning games. They will now be full of confidence ahead of their season opener against Ipswich Town on Friday. In addition, they have become an attractive team to join and that could help them turn Godfrey’s head away from Sheffield United.