Birmingham City are close to sealing their ninth summer signing as a £750,000 deal for Ben Davies has been accepted by Rangers, according to Football Insider.
The 29-year-old defender is expected to join the Blues permanently following a successful loan spell last season, with only a minor injury delaying the final stages of the move. Personal terms are not expected to be a problem, and the deal is likely to be finalised ahead of the 2025/26 Championship campaign.
Davies is under contract at Ibrox until 2026 but is surplus to requirements at Rangers. Birmingham have acted quickly to bring him back following a standout year that saw the defender form a formidable partnership with Christoph Klarer in League One.
A key figure in record-breaking campaign
Davies was a vital cog in Birmingham’s promotion-winning side, starting 32 league games as the Blues surged to the League One title with a record 111 points. He added further experience and composure at the back, and at times even displaced club captain Krystian Bielik from the starting XI.
Despite the arrivals of centre-backs Phil Neumann and Eiran Cashin this summer, manager Tony Mowbray is eager to build depth ahead of a challenging Championship schedule.
Versatility and experience
Davies brings with him a wealth of Championship experience, having made 151 appearances in the division across previous spells with Preston North End and Sheffield United. Though primarily a centre-half, he is also capable of covering at left-back — potentially offering a tactical option should competition intensify in central defence.
While there will be strong competition for places with Klarer, Neumann, and Cochrane all in contention, Davies’ defensive solidity and leadership are seen as vital to Birmingham’s ambitions of not just survival, but potentially challenging near the top end of the table.
📊 Key FotMob Stats – 2024/25 League One (Birmingham City):
• 35 appearances, 2 goals, 0 assists
• 3,079 minutes played, 34 starts
• Average match rating: 7.14
• Percentile rank among League One centre-backs:
• 91st for aerial duels won
• 88th for clearances per 90
• 85th for accurate passes
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