Birmingham City are on the verge of completing their first signing of the January transfer window, with the club set to announce the arrival of Norwich City defender Grant Hanley.
Reports indicate that full agreements have been reached with both the player and Norwich.
Manager Chris Davies has been impressed by Birmingham’s progress this season but is eager to bolster his defense with experience as the team prepares for a potential return to the Championship. While the Blues have already secured Hannover 96 defender Phil Neumann on a pre-contract deal for the summer, Hanley’s addition will provide an immediate boost.
According to Norwich-based outlet The Pink Un, Hanley has already undergone a medical at Birmingham after Norwich agreed to mutually terminate the final six months of his contract. Although Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup wanted to retain Hanley for his leadership, the defender was keen on more regular playing time, having made just one Championship start this season, back in the opening game against Watford. Players like Shane Duffy, Callum Doyle, and Jose Cordoba have since been ahead of him in the squad hierarchy.
How will Grant Hanley fit in at Birmingham City?
At 33, Hanley may take some time to regain full match fitness due to his limited minutes this season, but his presence will bring added stability to Birmingham’s backline. Formerly of Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, Hanley joined Norwich in a £3.2 million move in 2017 and has since accumulated 79 Premier League appearances.
Departing Norwich as club captain, Hanley has 295 Championship appearances under his belt and has never played below that level. While he may not be a regular starter for Birmingham, given the strong performances of Krystian Bielik, Christoph Klarer, and Ben Davies, Hanley will be a valuable option for rotation and seeing out games during congested fixtures.
Additionally, his leadership qualities will be a significant asset in the dressing room. With 59 senior caps for Scotland, Hanley remains a key figure for the national team, having started all six of their recent UEFA Nations League matches, including two games against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
