Birmingham City’s summer signing spree is NOT over, with the League One champions looking to replace Alfie May ahead of the new Championship season following his move to Huddersfield Town, Football League World has been exclusively informed.
And Blues have also earmarked two other signings before the transfer window slams shut – ones that will add considerable strength to the first-team squad.
So far in the summer window, the Midlands outfit have signed seven new players as well as turning loan deals for Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Alfons Sampsted into permanent ones, but they will not be slowing down anytime soon – especially after just receiving a fresh injection of cash via a transfer exit.
Birmingham City set to push for Alfie May replacement after Huddersfield Town move
City are in the market for a left-sided centre-half and main striker as they look to give boss Chris Davies what he wants ahead of the new campaign.
As exclusively revealed by Football League World, Huddersfield had agreed a £1.2 million deal for May after just one year at St. Andrew’s, and they have gazumped several League One rivals to his signature.
Bolton Wanderers were among those interested in the forward, who scored 16 league goals during Blues’ record-breaking promotion push, but he was surplus to requirements after Davies added a host of attacking talent to his ranks earlier on in the transfer window.
Kyogo Furuhashi has joined from Rennes, attacking midfielder Kanya Fujimoto landed on a free transfer from Gil Vicente in the Portuguese League, and Demarai Gray returned to the club from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.
All that means May has been pushed down the pecking order in Birmingham’s attack, and after going on an expensive shopping trip a few weeks ago, the club is looking to claw back some of its investment.
The recruitment team believed that there was some cash to be made from May’s sale – and it will be reinvested, with a new striker wanted by Davies despite already landing Kyogo’s services.
Alfie May’s EFL career stats, As per FotMob
Years
Club
Appearances
Goals
Assists
2017-2019
Doncaster Rovers
117
23
9
2020-2023
Cheltenham Town
165
67
14
2023-2024
Charlton Athletic
50
27
1
2024-
Birmingham City
57
17
9
However, losing May is a blow as the forward was a respected senior figure inside the club’s dressing room and became a fans’ favourite with his industry.
He agreed a three-year deal when he signed from Charlton Athletic last season for £850,000 amid serious competition from rival clubs, and he made himself an early favourite by netting a vital goal from the penalty spot on the opening day of the season against Reading.
May went on to bag four goals in his opening six matches of the season. However, he quickly found himself slipping down the pecking order following the summer deadline day arrival of Jay Stansfield.
The England Under-21 striker was the subject of a record-breaking £15m swoop by Chris Davies, leaving May to play a secondary role.
Despite this, he remained an integral part of the side and weighed in with some important goals as Birmingham roared back into the Championship – May however will spend the upcoming season back in League One at the Accu Stadium.
Alfie May departure makes sense for Birmingham City – the Championship is a different beast
May had been League One’s leading scorer with Charlton Athletic before he was enticed away from The Valley.
After enjoying another successful campaign last term, Brum wanted to recoup most of their outlay as they plot a route through the remainder of the transfer window in the hope of mounting a promotion push – without one of the men who got them there.
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And with the £1.2 million fee that has been agreed with Huddersfield, it means City have made a profit on May, which is good business for a player that is now 32 years of age and was never guaranteed to be able to make the step up to the Championship.