Birmingham City announced in December 2020 that they were planning on rebuilding their academy to reduce their financial investment on junior age groups and establish a B + C team system instead, citing a lack of competitive football in The Professional Development League. The Premier League responded by promoting them to a Category 1 Academy, meaning this is now their first season in Premier League 2 and the U18 Premier League.
Gathering information on the lower levels of youth football is a bit more difficult so I don’t have a full profile on them. However, Birmingham have indicated they are willing to sell any of their U18s with a few of them attracting interest across Europe including the intriguing prospect of Jobe Bellingham - the young brother of England international Jude.
Having already sold Amari Miller, who had just cracked the first team, to Leeds and Calum Scanlon last season to Liverpool the sales look set to continue at St Andrews with clubs sniffing around everyone with a bit of talent about them.
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Oliver Basey |
| CB | Mitchell Roberts |
| CB | Nico Gordon |
| RB | Marcel Oakley |
| LB | Kyle Hurst |
| CM | Oriol Soldevila |
| CM | Remi Walker |
| CM | Tate Campbell |
| RW | Caolan Boyd-Munce |
| LW | Josh Andrews |
| CF | Adan George |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Alfie Brooks |
| CB | Conor Barrett |
| CB | Tom Fogarty |
| RB | Rico Browne |
| LB | Harley Hamilton |
| CM | Jordan James |
| CM | Harry Manton |
| CM | Cianole Nguepissi |
| RW | Rico Patterson |
| LW | Jobe Bellingham |
| CF | Kieran Wakefield |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Jobe Bellingham
- Position: RW
- Age: 15
- Nationality: English
Not just listed here for his familial links, Jobe is an England U15 international currently being linked with a move to Manchester United. Jude’s younger brother could be set for a similar meteoric rise through the ranks. Already a regular in the U18 set up (he made his debut at 14) Jobe is an offensively minded player often deployed on the right of midfield or as a central striker. Borussia Dortmund have expressed an interest in pairing the brothers again and although there is no guarantee he can replicate Jude’s success all indications seem to be that he is on a similar path. Watch this space.
Rico Browne
- Position: CB
- Age: 17
- Nationality: English
Browne is another Birmingham prospect who has been playing well ahead of his age group. He appeared at just fifteen in the FA Youth Cup, quite literally doing his homework on the way to the game which he then dominated in a 4-1 win. He’s tall and excellent aerially, contributing consistently with set piece goals, but more impressive is his ability on the ball. The definition of a modern defender, Browne happily steps out into midfield and can play raking long range passes to really speed up attacks. Unusually for a CB he loves diving into a tackle, which is the habit that drew me to the Tyrone Mings comparison. Unsurprisingly, he has a host of Premier League teams trying to take him away from the Brummies - West Ham and Tottenham both had him on trial in March and Everton are also credited with an interest. If he chooses to stay at Birmingham, expect him to be accelerated into the first team fold.
Nico Gordon
- Position: CB
- Age: 19
- Nationality: English
Having broken into the Birmingham City team towards the end of the season, and being the only youth team player Birmingham took on their pre-season tour, Gordon looks set to increase his gametime in 2021/22. Similarly to Rico Browne, Gordon is a technically good CB with a strong passing range and ability to step into midfield. He is strong in the air and fairly quick, he is competent enough at nineteen for Championship football. Like his player comparison he has been utilised as a RB despite not looking totally comfortable there however that flexibility should allow him more first team opportunities. Gordon perhaps lacks the top-end potential of Browne but is more game-ready for Birmingham right now.