Northampton Town finalise surprise loan deal for Birmingham City star

Tyler Roberts has sealed a season-long loan switch from Birmingham to fellow English third tier club Northampton, both clubs announced just before the transfer deadline.

The 25-year-old, who can play as an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward or a winger on either flank, will represent for the Cobblers for the entire 2024/25 campaign. It’s a straight loan with no option or obligation to buy, finalised to guarantee starts for Roberts.

It was thought earlier on Friday that the former Leeds United man would join a different League One club, Barnsley. That never materialised, though, as Northampton worked throughout the day to make their dream deadline day deal a reality.

Roberts, signed from Leeds for a fee understood to be around £400,000 last summer, has failed to make the desired impact at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park so far. A string of injuries and general inconsistency have halted the former Wales international’s progress, with one assist the only direct goal involvement in 21 appearances.

A loan to Queens Park Rangers the previous season was more successful as Roberts netted three times in 18 Championship matches, but even that was a failure given the ability he had previously shown for Leeds.

Initially at West Bromwich Albion as an academy graduate, Roberts sealed a transfer to Elland Road in 2018 for a reported £2.5 million. The now 25-year-old contributed nine goals and 10 assists in 108 matches for the Lilywhites and even appeared 50 times in the Premier League for the Elland Road club.