Birmingham City have Stoke City to thank for easing financial burden with £4m transfer in 2013

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Birmingham City make the short trip across the Midlands to face high-flying Stoke City this weekend.

Chris Davies’ side are looking to return to winning ways after Birmingham were beaten by Leicester City to lose for the first time this season.

Stoke also want to win after losing to West Bromwich Albion last time out, while Mark Robins will be out for revenge against the Blues after they played a part in Coventry City’s decision to sack him back in 2024.

The two sides are in very different positions to the last time they met now that Birmingham are a financial powerhouse, but it wasn’t always like that, and Stoke actually did the visitors a huge favour in 2014.

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Stoke signed Jack Butland from Birmingham City in 2013 for £4m

Jack Butland was one of football’s hottest properties in 2013, but, with the Blues struggling for money back then, selling their key assets was going to be the only thing that helped balance the books.

It would be Stoke who would come to save the day, signing the then-19-year-old for a fee of £4m before allowing him to return on loan for the season.

A report from The Guardian back then stated that Butland had turned down the chance to join Southampton as his chances of playing first team football were better at Stoke.

That proved to be the case as he would make 168 appearances for the Potters, staying with them before joining Crystal Palace.

Jack Butland was linked with emotional Birmingham return in 2023

His quick rise through the ranks at Birmingham saw Butland make his England debut at 19, but his career never really took off at Stoke.

Now at Rangers, the 32-year-old has held their number one role for the best part of three seasons but had the chance to return to the West Midlands in 2023.

Wayne Rooney was reportedly keen to bring Butland back to St Andrew’s, however, it never materialised and it feels like it is unlikely to happen.