Birmingham City aren’t afraid to throw their wait about.
With those US investors providing The Blues with the kind of financial muscle and pulling power that practically every club in League One history can only dream of, it must feel like another eye-catching signing is arriving at St Andrews every week.
Alfons Sampsted joined Birmingham as the club’s eighth summer signing over the weekend.
The Iceland international reconnects with compatriot and ‘friend’ Willum Thor Willumson. As a result, he becomes the third player in as many weeks to leave the Netherlands’ top flight for a club in England’s third tier.
Willumson made his Birmingham debut in Saturday’s 1–1 draw against Reading. Emil Hansson, Alex Cochrane, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Marc Leonard, and Alfie May also took part.
And it was the latter who saved a point for Chris Davies’ team, converting an 87th-minute penalty.
Alfie May makes superb start at Birmingham City
May, who won the League One Golden Boot with Charlton Athletic last season, is continuing where he left off. However, instead of red, it is now blue.
According to sources, the late-blooming poacher cost Birmingham almost £775,000.
According to Michael Duff, May was a top target for rivals Huddersfield Town this summer. His eventual move to the Midlands leaves The Terriers’ manager looking for a number nine with time running out quickly.
“We are still looking to add, but you don’t always get what you want,” Duff told the Yorkshire Post.
“I’m looking for a 6’3” centre-forward who can hold it up, run in behind, and finish. However, with respect, we are where we are. We’ll endeavor to obtain the best player available to us.
“Transfers do not just happen. Supporters believe they do, but they don’t. A lot of effort goes into it.”
May is not quite 6ft 3ins – a pretty small, tricky attacker at only 5ft 9ins – but every club with promotion hopes requires a centre-forward capable of scoring goals like he does.
May has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last three seasons, first with Cheltenham Town and subsequently Charlton.
May’s Blues facing Charlton Athletic reunion
“It’s a pretty well-known story now that we had a player in the building and he went to another club the next day,” adds Duff, detailing how close Huddersfield came to signing a player who scored 27 goals in all competitions last season.
“So, until they sign the dotted line, they are not our player. We’re still looking around that part of the pitch.”
May will return to his old haunts on Tuesday night.
Birmingham play Charlton at The Valley to start their EFL Cup campaign, and May is unsure what kind of greeting he will receive.
“It will be interesting to see what the audience says and does about me,” May told BirminghamLive. “”I am a grown guy. An adult. It will not bother me if I get some boos.
“When I went there, there was a lot of outside noise, as well as a lot of inside commotion, from those inside the club who questioned my age when I first signed.
“But I promised someone when I first signed that I’d score 20 or more goals.” I fulfilled my pledge, earned the Golden Boot, and did my job. I could not do much more.
“When you leave, you hear certain things spoken about you, but I’d like to think that the reaction I receive will be positive. Every club I’ve been to has been a fan favorite. I will work hard on the pitch, run around, and do everything I can to aid the squad.”
