Tom Brady impact laid bare as Birmingham City close in on last-gasp transfer

31 August 2023 , 15:13

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Emanuel Aiwu is reportedly close to signing for Birmingham City (Image: Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Birmingham City are close to making a new signing thanks to the recent involvement of Tom Brady.

The NFL legend was confirmed as an investor in the Championship club on August 3, becoming a minority owner. Brady has been taking on the role of the chairman of the club’s new advisory board.

Brady called time on his illustrious playing career back in February after the conclusion of the 2022 NFL regular season. The 46-year-old won seven Super Bowls across a 23-year career that saw him play for the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The former quarterback was in attendance for Birmingham’s EFL Championship opener at home to Leeds United on August 5, just days after his role with the club was confirmed. Birmingham won the game 1-0 at St Andrew’s thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from striker Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Now, Birmingham are preparing to strengthen their squad for the 2023/24 Championship season with a late move before the transfer window slams shut. According to the Mail Online, they are close to signing Cremonese defender Emanuel Aiwu.

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The 22-year-old is reportedly set to have a medical with Birmingham with a view to signing a loan deal for the current deal. Aiwu was only signed by Cremonese last summer after arriving from Rapid Vienna.

The Italian club reportedly paid £3 million ($3.8 million) to sign the centre-back last year, and are now expected to let the player depart on a temporary basis. that Brady’s involvement in the ownership of the club is believed to be a factor in Aiwu’s decision to move to St Andrew’s.

It's claimed that Aiwu has been “attracted” to the idea of moving to Birmingham thanks to the vision of the club from Brady and the owners. He now looks likely to complete a late move to the Championship club to bolster their side.

Tom Wagner, the co-founder of Knighthead Capital Management LLC, is the majority owner of Birmingham after the takeover was completed earlier this summer. He and Brady have been business partners in the past, having also been part of the ownership of a Major League Pickleball team.

Birmingham will hope to have Aiwu signed in time to play their Championship game against Millwall on Saturday. The summer transfer window for English clubs closes at 11pm BST on Friday, September 1, and Birmingham would need everything to be completed before then for a deal to get over the line.

Mark Wakefield