FLW examines the potential departures from Birmingham City anticipated for the summer transfer window.
As the Championship season enters its closing stages, the management of Birmingham City will be assessing which players they intend to part ways with at the conclusion of the campaign.
The club has several players whose contracts at St. Andrew’s are set to expire at the end of the season, and among them are individuals on the older side of 30. It’s reasonable to assume that these players may not feature in the club’s future plans.
Allowing players over 30, especially those who struggle for playing time, to depart would allow Birmingham’s management to lower the squad’s average age and allocate funds towards acquiring desired replacements.
Considering this, we’ve identified two Birmingham City players who could potentially exit the club this summer.
Neil Etheridge
Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge arrived at Birmingham City from Cardiff City in 2020 but has encountered difficulty securing a consistent starting role at St Andrew’s.
Despite his notable signing nearly four years ago, Etheridge, now 34, has predominantly served as the backup to John Ruddy, suggesting a limited future with the club.
Initially celebrated as a significant acquisition, Etheridge had previously impressed as Cardiff’s primary goalkeeper during their 2018/19 Premier League campaign. However, he lost his starting position to Alex Smithies in the subsequent season, prompting his move to Championship rivals Birmingham in pursuit of regular playing time.
Initially, Etheridge’s transfer proved fruitful, featuring prominently in 43 Championship matches during the 2020–21 season and making 21 appearances in the following campaign. However, his momentum was disrupted by a bout of serious illness from Covid-19 during the 2021/22 season.
Since then, Etheridge’s on-field opportunities have dwindled significantly, with only four league appearances last season and even fewer this season.
After briefly returning to the team for two recent league fixtures, Etheridge found himself dropped once more, relegated to the sidelines.
Given his age and limited playing opportunities, it appears increasingly probable that he will seek a move away from the club this summer.
Marc Roberts
Defender Marc Roberts has been a stalwart at Birmingham City since his arrival in 2017, but his contract at St Andrew’s is set to conclude this summer.
Having served the club diligently, the former Barnsley player, now 33, appears poised to seek opportunities elsewhere this season. While he has been a consistent presence in the Blues’ lineup since joining, he has faced challenges in securing regular playing time this campaign.
Nevertheless, Roberts has made a resurgence in recent weeks, reclaiming his spot in the starting lineup. Notably, he even assumed the captaincy in recent victories against Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland.
Although Roberts has recently earned starts, his presence in the starting lineup has been infrequent throughout the season, suggesting a probable departure this summer despite his recent appearances.
Approaching nearly 200 appearances for Birmingham City, the defender aims to achieve this milestone before the season concludes.
While this season has presented challenges for Roberts, he remains a valuable player with the potential to contribute significantly as the club endeavors to climb the table in the remaining weeks.
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