Birmingham City ‘are open’ to sending midfielder Marc Leonard out on loan next season, with a number of Championship clubs interested, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The 23-year-old joined the Blues from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer after impressing in two separate season-long loan spells with Northampton Town. He was a huge hit at Sixfields, where he helped them achieve promotion from League Two before cementing their place in the third tier a year later. This saw the former Scotland under-21 international pick up the Cobblers Player of the Season award for the 2023/24 campaign.
Following their relegation from the Championship, Birmingham set upon building a squad capable of bouncing back at the first attempt. Leonard was seen as a player capable of doing just that and he penned a four-year deal in July last year.
He began the season in Chris Davies’ starting lineup but soon found his opportunities limited following the signing of Tomoki Iwata from Celtic. He found himself in and out of the team throughout the remainder of the campaign, with a large chunk of his 35 league appearances coming from the bench.
Leonard Loan On The Cards
With Birmingham now back in the second tier and expected to spend heavily, Leonard’s time on the pitch could be reduced further. According to O’Rourke, the West Midlanders are open to sending the former Hearts youngster out on loan in search of regular playing time. This has alerted a number of unnamed Championship clubs to his availability.
Birmingham City midfielder Marc Leonard is a loan target for of a number of Championship clubs with the Blues open to loaning him out. #bcfc pic.twitter.com/vKYxSvgvEM
— Pete O’Rourke (@SportsPeteO) June 2, 2025
Speaking last year, the central midfielder did admit he was frustrated by his lack of playing time:
“I did [realise] because I realised that the level of the club and how big the club is and I won’t shy away from anything. I think I train every day as hard as I possibly can and when I come on, I want to make as much impact as I can, or if I’m starting I want to do the exact same.
“I think the boys who have been playing have been unbelievable so far, and it’s been difficult and it’s been frustrating but you just have to get on with it, that’s football and I’m definitely not going to shy away from anything.”
Writer’s View
Marc Leonard will feel as if he is a player who should be playing regularly at this stage of his career. With the League One title almost sown up, he did enjoy more time on the pitch towards the back end of last season, but there are no guarantees that will continue in the Championship with his current employers. A number of new recruits are sure to arrive, but there will be no shortage of offers should Birmingham opt to send him out on loan. Aside from teams in the second tier, an array of League One clubs expected to be pushing for promotion next season are also likely to try their luck.
