Birmingham City are moving swiftly to secure their first acquisition of the January transfer window, with a deal for German defender Kai Wagner reportedly close to completion.
Blues Target MLS Stand-Out
Birmingham are in advanced talks to sign 28-year-old left-back Kai Wagner from MLS side Philadelphia Union, according to multiple reports from the United States. The club, managed by Chris Davies, is aiming for a fast start to the winter market to bolster their squad for a push towards the play-offs.
Wagner has been a consistent and creative force in Major League Soccer for the past six years. His impressive 2025 campaign saw him named in the MLS Team of the Season, an honour he shared with global superstar Lionel Messi of Inter Miami. His contributions included two goals and 11 assists in 35 matches.
Addressing a Key Position
The pursuit of Wagner is driven by a clear need for reinforcement at left-back. While Alex Cochrane has held the position for the last 18 months, he has faced little direct competition. This issue was compounded by a long-term injury to Lee Buchanan, who has been ruled out for over a year.
Manager Chris Davies is keen to establish immediate and high-quality competition for Cochrane, and Wagner's proven track record in MLS makes him a prime candidate. The German's creative output is notable, having also provided 10 assists in 2024 and eight in 2023 for Philadelphia Union.
A Busy Window Ahead
This potential signing is expected to be just the beginning of a active January for Birmingham City. The club's hierarchy is focused on building a squad with the depth and quality required to sustain a challenge for the Championship play-off places in the second half of the season.
Securing a player of Wagner's calibre early in the window would represent a significant statement of intent from the Blues as they look to climb the table under Davies's leadership.
