Meet the opposition | Birmingham City
As Swansea City prepare to face Birmingham City in the first round of the Carabao Cup, we take a closer look at the Blues.
What’s their story?
Birmingham City trace their roots back to 1875, when they were established as Small Heath Alliance. The club subsequently became known as Small Heath and then Birmingham before adopting the Birmingham City name in 1943.
The Blues were among the founding members of the Football League Second Division and made history by becoming the competition’s inaugural champions.
St. Andrew’s has been Birmingham’s home for 118 years, with the club having played at the ground throughout that time.
Their best-ever league finish came in 1955-56, when they placed sixth in the First Division. That same season also saw Birmingham reach the FA Cup final, matching their best-ever finish in the competition after they had also finished runners-up in 1931.
Birmingham have lifted the EFL Cup twice, winning the competition in 1963 and 2011, while they were beaten finalists in 2001.
The Blues are now in their second season back in the Championship, having secured promotion as League One champions in 2025 following their relegation from the second tier in 2024.
How’s their form?
The Blues have enjoyed an unbeaten pre-season under Chris Davies, securing victories over Huddersfield Town, Burton Albion, Crewe Alexandra, Northampton Town and Solihull Moors, before rounding off their preparations with an impressive penalty shootout win over 29-time La Liga champions Barcelona.
Birmingham finished 10th in the Championship last season, one place above the Swans and level on points. They ended the campaign just nine points adrift of Hull City in the final play-off spot and will be hoping to mount a promotion challenge this season.
The Blues have strengthened their squad over the summer, with Luis Vázquez, Kristoffer Lund, James Beadle, Dael Fry and Jhon Solis among their arrivals as Davies looks to build on last season's finish.
Who’s the manager?
Chris Davies took charge of Birmingham City in the summer of 2024 and enjoyed a remarkable first season, leading the Blues to the League One title with a record 111-point haul.
A promising young midfielder, Davies was forced to retire at 19 due to an arthritic condition in his foot and immediately moved into coaching.
He joined Brendan Rodgers' staff at Swansea City in 2010, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League before following Rodgers to Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester City.
Davies enjoyed considerable success during those spells, including back-to-back trebles at Celtic and the FA Cup and Community Shield at Leicester.
He later worked as Ange Postecoglou's senior assistant at Tottenham before taking his first managerial role with Birmingham.
Who’s the captain?
Christoph Klarer is the current captain of Birmingham City and has established himself as a key figure at the heart of the Blues' defence.
The Austrian defender began his career at Rapid Vienna before joining Southampton in 2016, where he progressed through the club's academy and represented the Under-18s.
Klarer returned to Austria on loan with SKN St. Pölten in 2020 before moving into German football later that year with Fortuna Düsseldorf.
He spent three seasons with Düsseldorf before joining newly promoted Bundesliga side Darmstadt 98 in 2023. Following their relegation after one season, Klarer returned to England in July 2024, joining Birmingham on a three-year deal.
He quickly became an important part of the Blues' defence during their 2024-25 League One title-winning campaign, helping the club secure promotion with a record 111-point haul. His performances earned him a place in the PFA League One Team of the Year, with Klarer one of seven Birmingham players selected.
Who are the key players?
Jhon Solis completed a permanent move to Birmingham City earlier this summer after an impressive loan spell from Girona during the second half of last season.
The 21-year-old midfielder made 18 appearances in all competitions as Blues secured a top-half Championship finish, scoring his first goal in a 2-1 victory over Bristol City in April. His energetic displays and ability to win possession quickly made him a popular figure at St Andrew's.
Solis began his career with Colombian side Atlético Nacional before earning a move to Girona in 2023. During his time in Spain he made 61 appearances and gained valuable experience in the UEFA Champions League, featuring against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Arsenal.
A combative midfielder who combines defensive qualities with technical ability on the ball, Solis has now committed his long-term future to Birmingham after adapting quickly to the demands of Championship football.
Jay Stansfield has finished as Birmingham City's top goalscorer in each of the last three seasons and remains a key figure in the Blues' attack.
The son of former Exeter City striker Adam Stansfield, Jay came through the Grecians' academy before joining Fulham in 2019.
He returned to Exeter on loan in 2022-23, wearing the number nine shirt previously retired in honour of his late father, and scored a hat-trick in his final game against Morecambe.
Stansfield then joined Birmingham on loan in 2023-24 and was named their Player of the Season before returning permanently in August 2024.
He scored 19 league goals during Birmingham's League One title-winning campaign and was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year. He has also represented England at Under-21 level and helped them win the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.