Dael Fry has revealed that Knighthead's ambitious vision for Birmingham City was the driving force behind his decision to join the club on a free transfer. The 28-year-old centre-back signed a contract that will keep him at St Andrew's until 2029, ending his long association with boyhood club Middlesbrough.
Fry's move to Blues
Fry, who had only ever played for Middlesbrough aside from a ten-game loan spell at Rotherham a decade ago, becomes Birmingham City's second signing of the summer, following Jhon Solis. He expressed his readiness for a new challenge away from Teesside.
“There was a lot of interest, and I obviously spoke to the manager on a Zoom call and that went really well,” Fry told club TV. “I like how he spoke and leaning the ambition from the club and – like I said – the manager spoke really highly of it. That’s what drove me towards coming here.”
Chris Davies and Knighthead's influence
Fry credited manager Chris Davies for impressing upon him the lofty targets set by Knighthead, the club's new owners. He also mentioned watching the Brady and the Blues documentary on Amazon Prime, which showcased the club's ambitious plans.
“He spoke of having experience in the group and how I’ve played 300 games, that’s what he wanted to add to the group, a bit of experience, a bit of leadership to make sure standards are high,” Fry added.
“It’s very interesting to see how ambitious the club is, obviously they got taken over by new owners and they were very ambitious, it was nice to see what they have installed into the club and the big names that are involved – the documentary was very good – and it’s a big part of why I came here as well.”
A fresh challenge
Fry, who has spent 21 years at Middlesbrough since joining at age seven, admitted the move represents a significant change. “It’s very different, new faces, new people to please, the people at Middlesbrough were absolutely excellent but it’s a new start for me, a fresh challenge and I think I’ll get an extra ten per cent out of myself. It’s a club on the up and hopefully this season we can make many memories together.”
Fry's arrival bolsters Birmingham City's defence as they prepare for the upcoming season under new ownership and management.
