Unsurprisingly, Birmingham City have emerged as the leading buyers in the Championship so far this summer. However, this level of business – with nine through the door at St. Andrews – has exceeded expectations.
The Blues kicked off the window early, with the permanent additions of Alfons Sampsted from Twente FC and Taylor Gardner-Hickman from Bristol City – the two being a couple of last year’s successful, league-winning loan players. Six deals later, comprising of loan moves, free transfers and high-fee purchases, Kanya Fujimoto has become Birmingham’s ninth arrival.
Fujimoto’s Career So Far
Fujimoto is an attack-minded midfielder, who wore the number ten shirt for Gil Vicente prior to this switch to the English second division. Since signing for the Portuguese outfit in 2020 on an initial two-year loan, the 26-year-old has featured in 115 games and scored 11 goals. This came after the aforementioned 2020-22 loan stint with Gil Vicente, where Fujimoto scored four times in 66 appearances including in a fifth-placed UEFA Conference qualifying league finish during the 2021/22 season.
As a graduate of the Tokyo Verdy academy, the former Japanese under-20 and under-19 international featured three times in both age groups and has now signed on a three-year deal with Chris Davies’ promoted side. Fujimoto will join up with another player from Japan, as Kyogo Furuhashi has also arrived in the West Midlands. The 30-year-old was signed from Stade Rennais for nearly an eight-figure fee. Tomoki Iwata will also help the 26-year-old ease into the Birmingham set-up with a familiar nationality too.
In a saga that has lasted nearly a month, the Blues have finally brought in their attacking midfield target. Last season, Fujimoto contributed five goals and five assists in just 30 Liga Portugal matches, with Gil Vicente finishing 13th.
Underrated Statistics
The midfielder is a standout in defending from attack, only being dribbled past 0.4 times per match last season and ranking in the 82nd percentile for possession won in the final third, for similarly-positioned league players.
Writer’s View
Birmingham have been relentless already this window, and with the budget that Davies has at his disposal the fun likely will not stop for Blues fans just yet. Very little has been spent on transfer fees so far this summer, but the wage structure for the incomings of Kyogo and Bright Osayi-Samuel in particular will be extortionate. Tommy Doyle’s loan in from Wolverhampton Wanderers will likely see Birmingham share a large portion of wages with the Premier League outfit too.
Fujimoto looks to be a technically-gifted midfielder with a keen eye for chance creation. In a combative Liga Portugal, opposing the likes of SL Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting CP, the 26-year-old already has top-flight experience which will be vital for Championship endeavours. Birmingham are building a scary side and have looked to not only blow the promoted sides away financially, but also those with parachute payments.
