Birmingham City have completed one of the best loan captures of the summer transfer window with the Black Cats winger.
Birmingham City enjoyed one of the most impressive summer transfer windows of any Championship side, and that commendable business did not halt on deadline day.
After Birmingham eyed a move for Jack Robinson, the Sheffield United veteran defender left Ruben Selles’ struggling Blades to join the Blues.
Although Birmingham missed out on Zak Vyner after Bristol City made it clear to the Blues and Wrexham that the centre-back was not for sale at any price, 32-year-old Robinson is an important addition in defence.
Another crucial addition to Chris Davies’ squad came with the eye-catching loan signing of Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts, who Birmingham fans will already be elated with after his first words as a Blues loanee.
Patrick Roberts for Sunderland
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Patrick Roberts’ first words after joining Birmingham City on loan from Sunderland
Birmingham signed Roberts on loan on deadline day, after the right-winger had been limited to just 27 minutes in three Premier League outings so far this season.
After Sunderland won promotion to the top flight, the Black Cats have spent over £160m on several marquee signings, namely former Arsenal skipper Granit Xhaka.
As well as the Swiss captain, Sunderland have recruited three wingers in Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi, and the deadline day signing of Bertrand Traore which has placed Roberts far down the pecking order under Regis Le Bris.
As a result, the Blues have secured the 28-year-old’s services on loan for the season, and Roberts made no secret that he is a “winner”.
Roberts told Birmingham’s media on deadline day: “I’m a winner, and this is a place, and a club, that wants to strive to get to the top.
“And off the back of last season, where I did that (winning promotion), I can see there’s potential here to have a good season.
“It didn’t take much convincing. It’s a big club, and getting back to where Birmingham should be is an aim.
“Doing what the club did last season is no small feat. It’s a hard league, I’ve played in it myself, so to go and get the points record is something special.
“To join now is exciting, there’s a lot of momentum, and it’s a huge club.”
Patrick Roberts of Sunderland takes to the field
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
What qualities Patrick Roberts will bring to Birmingham City
Roberts brings promotion experience to St Andrew’s, having played a pivotal role in the Black Cats’ resurgence from the depths of League One to the Premier League.
The former Manchester City prospect was a member of Sunderland’s 2021/22 League One play-off final-winning squad under Alex Neil, after he scored a last-minute winner at Sheffield Wednesday to send Sunderland to Wembley.
Upon promotion back to the Championship, Roberts enjoyed the best season of his Black Cats career when linking up with Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo, scoring five goals and notching seven assists.
Statistic Patrick Roberts for Sunderland
Games played 147
Goals 9
Assists 18
Patrick Roberts’ goalscoring record for Sunderland since joining in 2021.
Last season, Roberts notched double digits for combined goals and assists contributions, with his cameo off the bench in the play-off final win turning the tide back in the Black Cats’ favour with an assist for Eliezer Mayenda’s equaliser.
His close dribbling ability saw him fondly dubbed as the ‘Mini Messi’ by Sunderland supporters, and that technical prowess is what makes the ex-Celtic star such a nightmare for defences to deal with.
Although Roberts’ low goal output is the main caveat to his game, Birmingham fans could well be poised to fall into the ‘never fall in love with a loan player’ trap come the end of the 2025/26 season.
Roberts was not the only fringe Black Cats figure to leave on deadline day, with veteran midfielder Alan Browne leaving Sunderland for Middlesbrough on loan and full-back Niall Huggins joining Wycombe Wanderers on loan to reunite with Mike Dodds.