Championship expert ‘not convinced’ by Birmingham City’s signing of Demarai Gray, ‘main’ issue is clear

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Birmingham City have agreed a deal to bring Demarai Gray back to the club from Saudi Arabian Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq.

Birmingham City are heading into the 2025/26 Championship campaign buoyed by their record-breaking League One title win last term.

In the post-season, Birmingham’s “aggressive” transfer window is in full swing ahead of the Championship season, with the Blues targeting several high-profile signings.

Birmingham are set to sign Tommy Doyle from Premier League Wolves on loan for the season. As well as Doyle, Birmingham have eyed Joe Gelhardt from recently promoted Leeds United.

Aside from Doyle and Gelhardt, Birmingham are poised to re-sign former Blues winger Demarai Gray, but one Championship expert has shared some reservations over the deal.

• READ MORE: Wrexham must sign ‘exceptional’ top flight midfielder after Tommy Doyle’s snub for Birmingham City

Birmingham City’s re-signing of Demarai Gray questioned by Championship expert

With the summer transfer window shifting through the gears after the break, business is rife among second tier clubs, especially with the Blues.

Earlier in the window, EFL Analysis revealed that Birmingham were interested in Gray, who rose through the youth ranks at St Andrews.

Left-winger Gray made a name for himself after becoming the youngest player to score a hat-trick for Birmingham, at just 18, and has since enjoyed spells at Leicester City, Everton, and Bayer Leverkusen before his move to Saudi Arabia in 2023.

EFL Analysis confirmed this week that Birmingham have agreed a deal for Gray, and that the Blues have beaten Premier League interest to re-sign their former winger, who has scored eight goals in 78 Blues appearances.

Despite excitement from the Blues faithful regarding the re-signing of Gray, Championship expert Justin Peach is “not convinced” by the move.

He told the Second Tier podcast: “I think it’s exciting from the point of view of that he’s a homegrown lad, and he’s going back to the club he broke through at, but from a playing point of view, has he really been a regular starter in his career?

“His goal and assist record isn’t setting the world alight, he’s not managed more than ten goal contributions in a season his entire career, his highest his nine, playing-wise, I’m not blown away.

“The main thing you judge an attacker for is goal contributions, and I’m just not convinced by his record,

“Yes, he’s stepping down into the Championship, that might be a good step forward for him, but I’ve not seen enough from him at top flight level.

“I’d struggle to make a convincing argument that he’s had a massive impact in the games he has actually started in the Premier League.”

Amid those reservations regarding Gray’s re-signing by Birmingham, the Jamaican international will be hoping to rekindle his career, where it all started for the winger.

• READ MORE: Birmingham City must sign ‘wonderful’ Championship free agent this summer, Tony Mowbray loved him

Demarai Gray can rediscover his best form at Birmingham City

Gray rose to footballing prominence after breaking through at Birmingham, scoring a hat-trick in the Championship against Reading in his first full senior season, in which he also scooped the Blues’ Young Player of the 2014/15 Season award.

Although Gray’s direct goal contribution numbers throughout his career are questionable, the element of his game that can’t be questioned is his exceptional pace and direct dribbling ability.

Birmingham ace Jay Stansfield was hailed on England U21s duty, taking his 23-goal form into the summer, and the Blues forward will no doubt be looking forward to linking up with Gray next season.

Having one of the Championship’s best centre-forwards to play in tandem with will be a massive benefit to Gray, and could help him quell those reservations about his signing while firing Birmingham to a top-six place next season.