Blues Enter Race for Nigeria International
Birmingham City have registered their interest in signing Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka, according to a fresh report. The Championship side, alongside local rivals Coventry City, are said to be 'keen' on the 28-year-old Nigeria international, as revealed by Sky Sports News.
However, securing the player's signature will not be straightforward. The report indicates that La Liga club Valencia have already made an approach to Brentford for Onyeka, who is currently representing Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Competition and Current Deal Progress
Onyeka's Nigerian side, which includes Birmingham's own Bright Osayi-Samuel, was knocked out in the semi-finals and faces a third-place play-off against Egypt this Saturday. The central midfielder has featured in four of Nigeria's six tournament games.
Despite his international involvement, Onyeka has seen limited action at club level this season, making just six Premier League appearances for Brentford, none of which were starts. After joining from Midtjylland in 2021, he was a more regular fixture in his first three years before being loaned to FC Augsburg for the 2024/25 campaign, where he made 30 Bundesliga starts.
Birmingham's pursuit of midfield reinforcements is two-pronged. The club is concurrently working to finalise a deal for 21-year-old Jhon Solis from Girona, which is understood to be at a far more advanced stage, though not yet complete.
Addressing the Midfield Dynamics
The potential moves for both Solis and Onyeka signal Birmingham's intent to add physicality and presence to their engine room. Standing at 6ft tall, Onyeka would certainly fulfil that requirement, similar to the profile sought with the Solis transfer.
This dual approach highlights the club's determination to strengthen a key area of the pitch, though they now face a significant challenge in convincing Onyeka to choose St Andrew's over potential top-flight football in Spain with Valencia.
The coming days will be crucial as Birmingham look to tie up the Solis deal while navigating the increased competition for Frank Onyeka's signature.
