Transfers
£6.5m fee fuels Birmingham City’s chase for ex‑Real Madrid talent as MLS and La Liga clubs also target the 25‑year‑old in a crowded summer market
£6.5m was the fee Birmingham City paid for Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt, a transfer that highlighted the club’s recent spending spree after a failed pursuit of ex‑Real Madrid academy graduate César Gelabert. The 25‑year‑old Spanish playmaker, on loan at Sporting Gijón, has attracted interest from MLS clubs Columbus Crew and Minnesota United, and several La Liga sides.
Action Images By  Benedict Ferraby Published Aug 16, 2026, 12:29 PM GMT+1. Benedict is an EFL-accredited self‑publishing writer and sub‑editor for FLW, covering all three divisions while focusing on developments at Hull City and Birmingham City.
He graduated with a 2:1 Hons in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Wolverhampton in September 2024, then earned a Merit in MA Sports Journalism at Coventry University in 2025. His earlier work covered Rugby League and non‑league Football, and he interned with Wolves' Academy between 2023 and 2025.
Birmingham’s summer recruitment
The Blues added Max Bird, a former academy product, after his move from Championship rivals Bristol City, and followed with a goalless draw against Sheffield United at St. Andrew's. Recent signings James Beadle, Dael Fry and Jhon Solis, plus the advanced deployment of Paik Seung‑ho, illustrate a push to add cutting‑edge creativity. The club’s supporters Us will try to see these pieces gel.
Gelabert’s contract and interest
César Gelabert is under contract with El Monion until 2028, having joined the club at the start of the 2024/25 season on loan from French side Toulouse. MLS outfits Columbus Crew and Minnesota United have expressed keenness, while several La Liga clubs weigh a move. The 25‑year‑old recorded eight goals and four assists in 41 matches last season and featured in the FIFA Under‑17 World Cup final for Spain.
Manager Chris Davies has refined Birmingham’s tactical approach, aiming for a play‑off spot now that the post‑season lottery expands from four to six teams. The search for a creative spark aligns with the club’s broader market activity, exemplified by the £6.5m package secured for Joe Gelhardt, a sign of the financial commitment required to compete for talent like Gelabert.