In recent years, the Blues’ production line has been prolific, with the Bellingham brothers, George Hall, and Jordan James rising through the ranks.
Birmingham City may have suffered in the Championship in recent years, but if there has been one positive, it has been the success of their academy system.
Despite not being a Category One academy, the Blues have been able to bring through various stars in previous years who have played a part in the first-team, with England superstar Jude Bellingham being the most notable.
While Bellingham is excelling for the Three Lions and now Real Madrid on the highest stages, his younger brother Jobe was playing under John Eustace last season before being sold to Sunderland, while midfielders George Hall and Jordan James have also been growing nicely in the senior setup.
But who will be the next three young players to make an impact in the first team? Let us investigate…
Junior Dixon
Dixon, who did not come up through the ranks at St Andrew’s, was signed on a free transfer this summer after leaving Crystal Palace.
Dixon left the Eagles earlier this year and went on trial with the Blues, who were able to lock him down to a deal after being tracked by the likes of Borussia Dortmund last year.
The 18-year-old signed a one-year contract with the option to extend until 2025, and if he can replicate his form from last season with Palace with Birmingham’s under-21s, Eustace may consider him for the first-team.
Dixon scored 10 goals in 15 appearances for Palace last season, including a run of eight goals in six games at the start of the season, so Birmingham have clearly signed a young player who knows where the back of the net is.
Romelle Donovan
Donovan, who turned 16 in November, appeared in three first-team matchday squads last season, all in the FA Cup, and went on Birmingham’s overseas pre-season tour this summer.
That means the winger is evidently highly regarded at the club and by Eustace, and he was named on the bench for an EFL Cup tie against Cheltenham in August.
Donovan still has a lot to show at under-21 level, assuming he’ll be playing there as well as the under-18s in 2023-24, but he might be Birmingham City’s next teenage debutant.
Brandon Khela
Khela, who has been with Birmingham since he was a toddler, signed a professional contract with the club in 2022 and made his senior debut against Cheltenham Town earlier this season in the EFL Cup.
Midfielder Khela has been in various matchday squads this season and has been capped twice for England at under-17 level in 2022. He is clearly highly rated in both club and national setups and it should only be a matter of time before he makes his Championship debut.
Birmingham’s midfield is competitive thanks to the presence of Jordan James and George Hall in addition to the more experienced alternatives, but Khela’s time will come, whether in the FA Cup later in the season or in the league.
