Expert questions Tom Wagner’s Birmingham City Championship revenue claims despite ‘Tom Brady factor’.
Birmingham City is on a mission to join the Premier League under their American ownership, and the Blues will make astronomical profits in the process.
Birmingham City are entering the Championship season after a remarkable leap from League One. Chris Davies’ side won the third tier title by a landslide with 111 points, and they are expected to be promoted to the first flight as early as 2025/26.
Birmingham owner Tom Wagner wants Premier League promotion immediately, and the club plans a “aggressive” transfer window this summer to assist achieve that goal.
As evidenced by the Blues’ climb from League One, the club is not reluctant to spend large sums of money on that goal, but one football financial expert has questioned Wagner’s hopes for the Blues’ record-breaking earnings.
Expert questions Tom Wagner’s Birmingham City revenue claims
Following the Blues’ historic League One victory, owner Wagner set a Championship record when revealing that he believes Birmingham, co-owned by NFL icon Tom Brady, can compete with the EFL’s biggest teams in terms of income.
Wagner told The Times: “If our revenue increases as we anticipate for next season, which is almost certain, we will be the highest revenue-generating club in the Championship without receiving parachute payments, and we will be on par with those receiving parachute payments.
” “If we then progress one year further, and we’re fortunate enough to end up in the Premier League, we’ll be a mid-table club or better in total revenue, first year in.”
However, Kieran Maguire, a football financial expert, has questioned Wagner’s statements. He told the Second Tier Podcast that Wagner’s views are clearly bullish.
“I’m looking at my figures here, if they’re saying they’re going to make more money than Leeds United did a few years ago, when Leeds were challenging at the top of the Championship, then fair play to them.” They must have some excellent discounts; I believe they are trying to capitalise on the Tom Brady influence. “It’s unclear how much of a brand he brings to Birmingham City, but the Blues’ trajectory is undoubtedly encouraging.
“The record revenues, well, if they do that then fair play to them, but that means they’re going to be generating, at the thick end, of £60m.” Despite Maguire’s assessment, the Blues’ summer transfer window has unquestionably put the team on track for a top-six finish next season.
Birmingham City have made stellar start to summer transfer window
Ahead of the club’s return to Championship status, the Blues hierarchy is clearly set on providing commercial support during the summer transfer window. Birmingham are ready to recruit Tommy Doyle from Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Demarai Grey, a former Blues prospect, is returning to Birmingham following a profitable period in Saudi Arabia.
The Blues have also signed England Under-21 Euros champion James Beadle on loan from top-flight Brighton, however Birmingham supporters are divided on him.
Both Birmingham and Wrexham are interested in loaning Joe Gelhardton from Leeds, and the aforementioned summer deals at St Andrews will undoubtedly help Wagner’s Premier League promotion ambitions.
Given Birmingham’s previous appearance in the top division in 2011, Americans Wagner and Brady are proving they mean business in the window leading up to the 2025/26 second tier, where the owners’ ambitious aspirations may become reality.
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