Birmingham City have confirmed the permanent departure of defender Alfons Sampsted, who has completed a transfer to Dutch Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles. The 27-year-old Iceland international leaves St Andrew's after an 18-month spell with the Blues.
From Twente to Title Winner
Sampsted initially joined Birmingham City on loan from FC Twente in the summer of 2024, with the move becoming permanent later that year. During his time with the club, he was part of the squad that secured the League One title, contributing to their promotion back to the Championship.
Limited Role Under Chris Davies
Despite being part of the successful campaign, Sampsted never established himself as a first-choice player under manager Chris Davies. The defender made 31 appearances in total for Birmingham, with the majority coming from the substitutes' bench.
His most significant involvement came during the festive period last season when he started two Championship matches against Southampton and Watford. However, he subsequently lost his place in the starting eleven when Davies reinstated Tomoki Iwata at right-back.
January Exit Green-Lighted
Manager Chris Davies had initially blocked Sampsted's departure earlier this month due to squad depth concerns, but the return of Bright Osayi-Samuel from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations has facilitated the defender's exit.
Part of Winter Exodus
Sampsted becomes the fourth player to leave Birmingham City during the January transfer window, following the departures of Lyndon Dykes, Keshi Anderson and Marc Leonard. This represents a significant reshaping of the squad as Davies prepares for the remainder of the Championship season.
The Icelandic defender's move to Go Ahead Eagles marks a return to the Netherlands, where he previously played for FC Twente before his switch to English football. At 27 years old, Sampsted will be looking to secure more regular first-team football in the Eredivisie.
Birmingham City continue their Championship campaign with a squad that has seen considerable changes during the winter transfer period, as Davies seeks to build a team capable of maintaining their second-tier status and pushing for improvement in the coming months.
