Birmingham City are reportedly preparing a January transfer move for Newcastle United’s young midfielder Alfie Harrison, as Chris Davies looks to strengthen his squad for the second half of the Championship season.
The ambitious Blues, under the ownership of Knighthead Capital Management, are currently 14th in the Championship with 34 points from 26 games. While outside the play-off places, they remain just seven points behind sixth-placed Watford in a tight race for a top-six finish.
Their recent resurgence, which began with a 3-2 victory over league leaders Coventry City on January 4, was replicated in Saturday’s FA Cup third-round success over League Two play-off hopefuls Cambridge United, also by a 3-2 scoreline.
Birmingham’s squad has already seen several departures this month, including Dion Sanderson, Emil Hansson, and Eiran Cashin, while Davies has addressed previous weaknesses with the arrival of left-back Kai Wagner from Philadelphia Union.
The club is also close to completing deals for forward Abdoulie Manneh from Mjallby AIF and Colombian midfielder Jhon Solis from Girona, reportedly for around £4million. Now, reports suggest that Harrison could be the next addition.
Harrison, 20, joined Newcastle from Manchester City in early 2024 for a reported fee of up to £3.5million. The Manchester-born midfielder had impressed at City’s Under-18s level, scoring 14 goals and providing eight assists in 34 appearances, helping the side to an Under-18s Premier League title in 2023.
After a brief spell with City’s Under-21s, he moved to Newcastle, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Since arriving in the North East, Harrison has primarily featured for Newcastle’s Under-21s. He has yet to break into Eddie Howe’s first-team plans, although he was involved in pre-season friendlies against Brest and Espanyol.
With players like Sam Alabi making Champions League night squads, opportunities have been limited. This season, Harrison has contributed five assists in 10 academy appearances and scored in three EFL Trophy games, including a goal in a 3-1 defeat to Harrogate Town.
Recent reports have highlighted growing Championship interest in Harrison, with the Daily Mail naming Birmingham as a potential suitor.
ChronicleLive notes that Newcastle could sanction a January exit, allowing the club to receive a small fee, or Harrison could leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. Other clubs in England and abroad are also reportedly monitoring his situation.
For Birmingham, Harrison represents a young talent with the potential to add goals and creativity from midfield.
The Blues have a strong record of developing academy graduates, with recent examples including Jude and Jobe Bellingham, Jordan James, and Romelle Donovan flourishing after progressing through St. Andrew’s.
With first-team opportunities increasingly available amid squad rotation and injuries, Birmingham could offer Harrison a pathway into senior football and a platform to continue his development.
Securing Harrison would mark another step in Davies’ January rebuild as he looks to bridge the gap with the league’s top sides and keep the club in contention for its first Championship play-off appearance since 2012.
