Birmingham City have confirmed which players will leave the club at the end of their contracts as preparations start for the 2025/26 Championship campaign
10:28, 20 May 2025Updated 10:34, 20 May 2025
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Grant Hanley of Birmingham City
Birmingham City have confirmed Grant Hanley and Lee Myung-Jae have left the club following the announcement of their released and retained list.
The defenders both signed short term contracts midway through the season to give Chris Davies the depth to maintain what turned out to be a record breaking season.
Ten of the club’s under-21 players have been released, including striker Junior Dixon and midfielder Josh Home, who worked with the first team last season and was an unused substitute in the Vertu Trophy quarter-final win at Swindon Town.
The announcement was made on the club’s website and reads: “Birmingham City can confirm the list of retained and released players following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season.
“Grant Hanley and Lee Myung-Jae – who both joined the club in January – have been released following the expiration of their contracts, while Luke Harris, Kieran Dowell and Ben Davies have returned to their parent clubs following respective loan spells.
“Meanwhile, long-serving striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has retired from football following nine years and 358 appearances for the club.
“As previously communicated, Phil Neumann will officially join Blues on July 1 after signing a pre-contract agreement in January, while the club has also completed the permanent signing of Alfons Sampsted following his season-long loan from FC Twente.
“Youngster Zaid Betteka has signed his first professional contract, while the club has also offered first-year professional contracts to nine other second-year scholars, details of which will be confirmed during the close season.
“Ten young professionals have been released. Ben Beresford, Junior Dixon, Taylor Dodd, Laiith Fairnie, Harley Hamilton, Josh Home, Femi Olofinjana, Sahid Kamara, Stoyan Pergelov and Oliver Sayer will all leave Birmingham City following the expiration of their contracts.
“Options in the club’s favour have been exercised for Will O’Sullivan, Zach Willis, Alvaro Ruiz Rente, Daniel Isichei and O’Shea Ellis, while Kurtis Havenhand has been offered a one-month contract.
“The club thanks each player for their efforts during their time at Blues and wishes them every success in their future careers.”
Hanley leaves having made 17 appearances, mostly off the bench, since signing on a short-term deal from Nowich City.
This leaves Blues with a contract squad of:
Ryan Allsop, Keshi Anderson, Zaid Betteka, Krystian Bielik, Godfred Boakye, Lee Buchanan, Alfie Chang, Alex Cochrane, Romelle Donovan, Lyndon Dykes, O’Shea Ellis, Tommy Fogarty, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, George Hall, Emil Hansson, Daniel Isichei, Tomoki Iwata, Brandon Khela, Christoph Klarer, Ethan Laird, Marc Leonard, Emmanuel Longelo, Alfie May, Brad Mayo, Menzi Mazwi, Phil Neumann, Will O’Sullivan, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Byron Pendleton, Cody Pennington, Paik Seung-Ho, Tyler Roberts, Alvaro Ruiz Rente, Alfons Sampsted, Dion Sanderson, Jay Stansfield, Frank Tattum, Zachary Willis, Willum Willumsson, Ben Wodskou, Scott Wright, Ayumu Yokoyama.
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