Done deal: Birmingham City finalise transfer with League Two club for midfield starlet
A deal has been completed between Birmingham City and Bradford City to commence the January transfer business.
Birmingham have loaned promising midfielder Brandon Khela to League Two club Bradford for the rest of the 2024/25 season.
The 19-year-old’s opportunities under Chris Davies have been few and far between as Blues have had little wiggle room to introduce youngsters. Immediate promotion from League One back to the Championship is the clear priority, so Davies can’t take any real risks with his selections until that objective has been met.
Khela, who has played six times across all competitions so far this campaign, won’t have to worry about limited minutes any longer. It was announced on Friday afternoon that the former England Under-17 international has put pen to paper on a six-month loan switch to Bradford.
The move to Valley Parade should suit Khela as he will be able to gain regular starts in a competitive team. The Bantams are currently ninth in League Two and have ambitions to break into the top six and qualify for the play-offs. Three points is currently the gap to Port Vale in sixth, so it’s certainly possible.
Khela made his league debut against Huddersfield Town in October 2023 and in doing so became the first British South Asian to make an appearance for Birmingham. Capable of playing in most midfield roles or as an auxiliary full-back, the teenager offers excellent versatility that Bradford will no doubt seek to exploit.
Birmingham hope to avoid disaster loan repeat
Blues will have their fingers crossed that Khela’s temporary move away works out better than that of Romelle Donovan, who struggled to gain regular minutes on loan at Burton Albion.
Birmingham have recalled Donovan from the Brewers as the 17-year-old accumulated just 414 minutes across all competitions in the first half of the campaign. First brought into the first-team setup by Wayne Rooney, Donovan is a tricky and energetic attacking midfielder who deserves a proper opportunity.
It awaits to be seen if Blues’ priority is to keep Donovan for the final six months of the campaign to develop him in the youth setup, or whether they’d rather loan him out again. With the January transfer window now well and truly open, time will tell.
Blues loan situation
There are five players currently out on loan from Birmingham - including Khela - as the club believes it will get the best out of the relevant individuals for the remainder of the campaign.
Tyler Roberts, currently at Northampton Town, is the highest profile of the bunch. The former Leeds United man has made 16 appearances in League One for the Cobblers so far this term, assisting two goals. Another player out in the English third tier, Emmanuel Longelo, has had a less enjoyable stint as he’s played just eight times for Cambridge United.
Promising midfielder George Hall will stay with Walsall until the end of the campaign despite a host of hamstring injury concerns. The 20-year-old, once heavily linked with Leeds United, was just working his way back to fitness but suffered another setback. It’s hoped he’ll return soon to help Matt Sadler’s team.
The final Blues star spending part of 2024/25 elsewhere is right-back Josh Williams, at National League outfit Gateshead. Unlike the others, the 22-year-old’s deal is just two months long. He will return at the end of January.