Chuba Akpom has revealed how close he came to joining Birmingham City this summer before Ipswich Town hijacked the deal at the last minute.
The Ajax striker, who spent three years at Middlesbrough earlier in his career, admitted the saga was “mental” as both Championship clubs battled to secure his signature before the window closed.
EFL Championship
Transfer Saga on the Motorway
Akpom had been lined up for a loan move to Birmingham with an obligation to buy if the Blues won promotion to the Premier League. However, Ipswich stepped in and agreed a similar deal, one that will see them pay £7 million next summer if they return to the top flight.
That intervention left Birmingham missing out on what would have been their 13th new addition of the summer window, though they did complete the signing of Marvin Ducksch.
“It was quite entertaining for you guys! But for me, honestly, it was just mental,” Akpom told the East Anglian Daily Times. “Up and down the motorway, in hotel rooms, trying not to be seen by people. I had people trying to take pictures of me and stuff like that. I don’t want to be getting DMs from my friends showing me the blogs posting ‘Chuba’s going Birmingham, Chuba’s going Ipswich’. But that’s what was happening.”
Why Ipswich Won the Race
Despite Birmingham’s strong interest, Akpom insists his mind was set once Ipswich made their move. The Tractor Boys, recently relegated from the Premier League, offered him the project he wanted and the opportunity to work under Kieran McKenna. He also revealed he was also influenced by his time under Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough, drawing parallels between his former boss and McKenna.
“They have similar ways of playing and generally are two top people that you can have a conversation with. The main factor for me is learning. I’m 29, but as I get older, I feel like I’m learning more and more.”
Since completing his switch, Akpom has made three Championship appearances, all from the bench, but is yet to open his account for Ipswich. With fixtures against Portsmouth and Bristol City coming up, the former Arsenal striker will be eager to get off the mark and justify the late scramble for his signature.
Writer’s View
Akpom’s words underline just how close Birmingham came to securing another marquee addition in what was already a transformative summer. The Blues had the framework of a deal with Ajax, but Ipswich’s decisive late move and McKenna’s influence swung the striker’s decision.
While Akpom has yet to make his full impact at Portman Road, the story highlights how competitive the Championship market has become, with even ambitious clubs like Birmingham vulnerable to hijacks. For Ipswich, it could prove a statement signing.
For Birmingham, it remains another “what might have been” in a summer that was already busy with arrivals but could have been even more ambitious had Akpom chosen St Andrew’s.
