Harry Redknapp oversaw his only transfer window as manager of Birmingham City in 2017, but where are the 14 players he signed that summer now with just three still at the Blues?
The St Andrew’s hierarchy appointed Redknapp to replace Gianfranco Zola in charge once the Italian resigned after just four months. Birmingham endured a dire run of form during Zola’s brief spell in the Second City, winning just two of 22 possible Championship fixtures.
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Redknapp arrived with the Blues just 20th in the standings and only three points from the relegation zone. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth coach would win two of his three games at the helm to guide Birmingham to safety and signed a one-year contract.
However, Redknapp’s positive start at Birmingham and a frantic summer transfer window failed to lead to a positive 2017/18 season. The Blues sacked the 75-year-old in September after six-straight defeats in all competitions and the club 23rd in the Championship table.
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Lee Carsley replaced Redknapp on a temporary basis, before Birmingham appointed Steve Cotterill in October then Garry Monk in March. Between them, the Blues finished the term in 19th-place before embarking on a much smaller rebuild in the summer transfer window.
Just three of Redknapp’s 14 transfers as Birmingham boss remain at the club now
Marc Roberts, Maxime Colin and Harlee Dean remain at Birmingham from Redknapp’s one and only transfer window at the helm. But Dean spent the latter half of the 2021/22 term on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and only started six of his seven League One appearances.
Of the other 11 players Redknapp signed as Birmingham boss in the summer of 2017, five arrived on loan. Carl Jenkinson and Cohen Bramall moved from Arsenal, Liam Walsh joined from Everton, Sam Gallagher moved from Southampton and Chelsea let Jeremie Boga join.
Jenkinson would later join Nottingham Forest for £2m in August 2019, but the City Ground outfit will release him this summer. Bramall also left Arsenal in 2019 for Colchester United, before the 26-year-old joined current club Lincoln City in 2021 where he’s played 53 times.
Walsh, meanwhile, returned to Everton in November 2017 before joining Bristol City in the following January. He remained with the Robins up to July 2021 when he joined Swansea City, who sent the 24-year-old out on loan this January with Hull City after seven outings.
Gallagher’s efforts at St Andrew’s during the 2017/18 season convinced Blackburn Rovers to pay Southampton £5m. The 26-year-old striker remains at Ewood Park today. But he has only offered 36 goals and 17 assists across 169 appearances in all competitions with them.
As for Boga, the seven-cap Ivory Coast forward joined Serie A side Sassuolo on the back of his Birmingham spell. The Chelsea product later moved to Atalanta this January in an initial loan deal that the Bergamo side have an obligation to turn permanent for €18m (£15.5m).
Redknapp sanctioned Gardner move as first permanent Birmingham transfer
Redknapp sanctioned his first permanent transfer as Birmingham manager by paying West Brom £1.5m for Craig Gardner. The Blues had already paid the Baggies £500k as a loan fee during the January 2017 market. He would then stay at St Andrew’s until retiring in 2020.
Redknapp sealed his first true permanent Birmingham transfer with Stockdale
David Stockdale joined Birmingham from Brighton for free in July 2017 as Redknapp’s first true permanent transfer as Blues manager. The goalkeeper had rejected a new contract on the south coast to move to the Second City, where he would remain until September 2020.
He featured just 40 times for the St Andrew’s natives, though, having spent time on loan at Southend, Wycombe and Coventry. Wycombe returned in 2020 to loan him from the Blues again and would retain him, but now risk losing Stockdale with Sheffield Wednesday keen.
N’Doye now Red Star captain three years after St Andrew’s release
Birmingham signed Cheikh N’Doye from Angers in July 2017 and he featured 40 times over the 2017/18 campaign. But the Senegal star returned to Angers on loan for the next term before the Blues axed him in 2019. Red Star then swooped in 2020, where he is captain.
Exit-bound Cardiff man Vassell made limited impact during Second City stay
Isaac Vassell made a limited impact during his time in the Second City from 2017 to 2019. The forward featured just 24 times and scored once between joining from Luton Town and leaving for Cardiff. He is now leaving the Bluebirds when his contract expires on June 30.
Peleteiro still without a club since Deportivo Alaves departure
Jota Peleteiro still finds himself without a club since leaving Deportivo Alaves at the end of his contract last year. The winger spent just a season at the Spanish side, having left Aston Villa in 2020 a year after moving between Birmingham outfits for £4m plus Gary Gardner.
Redknapp sealed last Birmingham transfer for now Salford star Lowe
Redknapp secured his last permanent transfer as Birmingham manager with a deal to sign now Salford star Jason Lowe. The midfielder joined the Blues from Blackburn on deadline day, but would join Bolton just a year later having only played 11 games and started eight.
Lowe would enjoy a longer spell with Bolton before moving to League Two with Salford in 2020. He also featured vastly more often with 71 appearances at the UniBol, while since reaching 96 games, scoring two goals and creating four for Salford across all competitions.
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