An announcement is expected imminently as Birmingham City complete one of the transfers of the summer.

Birmingham City are set to announce the signing of Demarai Gray this week after the winger passed a medical ahead of a romantic return to his former club.

Blues have now completed every necessary step they need to get the deal over the line and are just waiting for Gray’s current side, Al-Ettifaq, to get formal approval from the Saudi Pro League. Once that’s been sorted, both teams can announce the transfer has been finalised, reports Give Me Sport’s Ben Jacobs.

It was originally reported that Al-Ettifaq wanted to recoup the £8 million they paid to sign Gray from Everton two years ago but Blues managed to negotiate brilliantly, landing the winger for free with a 20 per cent sell-on clause included to sweeten the deal. An announcement from Birmingham could come as soon as today.

Sunderland, who were recently credited with a renewed interest in Gray by Give Me Sport, didn’t make a fresh approach to Ettifaq after an attempt to sign him in the winter. The Black Cats may well be onto bigger and better things in the Premier League but one eye may peer to see how he gets on at Blues.

If and when Gray is confirmed, he will be Blues’ third official signing of the summer after Phil Neumann from Hannover 96 and James Beadle on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. Fenerbahce right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel could be next, while it’s understood talks have been held to bring in Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Tommy Doyle.

What form has Demarai Gray been in?

Gray has spent the past two seasons at Ettifaq but has struggled to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia. The winger has scored just four goals and provided only five assists in 50 matches for Ettifaq and he’s been growing increasingly homesick, so a move back to the Second City makes great sense.

Predominantly a left winger but also capable of playing out on the right, Gray has top-flight pedigree and is still in his prime years. The 22-time Jamaica international is a Premier League winner as he played 12 times during Leicester City’s historic 2015/16 campaign – and he even ventured to the Bundesliga to play for Bayer Leverkusen for the second half of the 2020/21 season.

Across spells at Leicester and Everton, Gray has made 200 Premier League appearances throughout his career, scoring 19 goals and providing 14 assists. The Blues academy product also played five times in the UEFA Champions League throughout 2016/17.

Although many of Gray’s best achievements were quite some time ago, he still possesses great pace and flair. His goalscoring output may have slowed over the past few seasons and he certainly didn’t hit the ground running in Saudi Arabia, but a drop down to the Championship could suit him perfectly.

Will Demarai Gray fit in well at Birmingham City?

Birmingham need a new left winger and Gray would surely be a significant upgrade on Emil Hansson. The fact that Gray can play on either side is very useful, too, as Davies can switch things up every now and then to try and break down the low blocks oppositions so often deploy.

Despite Gray’s concerning form, fitness isn’t a worry as he started 19 Saudi Pro League matches throughout 2024/25. The Jamaican may need time to adapt to the intensity Davies demands but that’s the case with most new signings. This could be the perfect move for all parties.