Birmingham City’s most expensive signings of all time as Tom Wagner plots ambitious assault on Championship

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After winning League One in 2024/25, the Blues are now eyeing a place back in the Premier League with a busy summer ahead, and we’re likely to see the record for Birmingham City’s most expensive signings broken.

Under the ambitious ownership of Tom Wagner, the Blues set an EFL points record in the most recent campaign, notching 111 to win the third tier with ease.

Attention has now turned to the summer transfer window and preparing for life back in the Championship.

Bolstered by their new investment, Birmingham are reportedly offering at least £30k-a-week to new signings as they look to build a very strong squad.

An aggressive summer transfer window is expected and in light of this ambition, we revisit the club’s most expensive-ever signings.

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Top five most expensive Birmingham City signings

5. James McFadden 

In the January transfer window of the 2007/08 season, Scottish international forward James McFadden made the move from Everton to Birmingham City for an initial fee of £5 million, potentially rising to £6 million.

The transfer was largely driven by McFadden’s need for regular first-team football, having struggled for consistent starts at Goodison Park, and the chance to reunite with his ex-Scotland manager, Alex McLeish, at St Andrew’s.

McFadden made an immediate impact at Birmingham City, scoring four goals in 12 Premier League games, including a penalty against Arsenal. Despite his efforts, the club was relegated.

While his initial contributions were positive, his overall tenure was hampered by frequent injuries. He was vital in their 2009 promotion and 2011 League Cup win, but a serious knee injury in 2010/11 limited his impact, leading to his eventual exit.

He left the club on June 30, 2011, after his contract expired, and Birmingham opted not to take up their two-year option. He rejoined Everton on October 17, 2011, on a free transfer.

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4. Ivan Sunjic

In the 2019/20 season, Ivan Sunjic joined Birmingham City from Dinamo Zagreb for £6.73m, marking a considerable investment for the Championship club. The defensive midfielder arrived with a reputation as a Croatian U21 captain and Champions League experience.

Sunjic quickly became a regular starter, making 40 appearances in his debut season and scoring three goals, including a notable Goal of the Month winner against Derby County. However, despite his consistent efforts and high work rate, he struggled to justify his beefy price tag.

His time at Birmingham was largely defined by the club’s struggles at the lower end of the Championship table. He remained a regular part of the team, including a loan spell at Hertha BSC in 2022/23.

He left the club on July 31, 2024, on a free transfer after their relegation to League One. He later joined Pafos FC in the Cypriot First Division.

3. David Dunn 

In the 2003/04 season, David Dunn arrived at Birmingham City from Blackburn Rovers in a then-club-record £7.36m deal. The England international midfielder was expected to be a star signing.

Dunn started strongly, even scoring on his debut against Tottenham. However, his time at St Andrew’s was riddled with injury problems, with him struggling to maintain fitness and consistency. He only managed 58 league appearances and 7 goals during his three-and-a-half years.

He departed the club to return to Blackburn Rovers on January 17, 2007, for a reported fee of £2.2 million. He is often thought of as a signing that, despite high hopes, didn’t fully live up to expectations.

2. Emile Heskey 

In the 2004/05 season, Birmingham City signed England international striker Emile Heskey from Liverpool for a fee reported to be around £7.84 million. This was a significant investment for the Blues, as Heskey arrived with the expectation to lead their attack.

Heskey certainly had an impact in his first season, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions (10 in the Premier League), and was even named their Player of the Season.

His play provided a crucial focal point for the team, creating space for others. However, his second season (2005/06) saw his goal output drop to four in 34 league appearances, coinciding with Birmingham’s relegation from the Premier League.

He departed the club on July 7, 2006, following Birmingham’s relegation, joining Wigan Athletic for a reported fee of £5.5 million.

While he was a popular figure and undoubtedly contributed in his first year, his overall impact was somewhat diminished by the club’s struggles and his relatively short tenure of just two seasons.

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1. Jay Stansfield 

In the 2024/25 season, Jay Stansfield made a permanent move to Birmingham City from Fulham for an initial fee reported to be £15 million, potentially rising to £20 million, smashing the League One transfer record.

This followed a successful loan spell in 2023/24 where he scored 12 goals. He remains at Birmingham City, having signed a long-term contract reportedly until the end of the 2030/31 season.

Stansfield proved to be an excellent signing and had a massive impact. He finished the 2024/25 season as their top scorer with 19 league goals and 23 goals across all competitions, playing a key role in their promotion back to the Championship. His goal-scoring and overall performances led to him receiving the club’s Player of the Season award.