Birmingham City and Wrexham are two of the most financially ambitious clubs in the Championship, and both have been fighting to sign an in-demand Liverpool talent.
Both Birmingham City and Wrexham have built on the successes of their League One promotions last season with some outstanding summer transfer window business.
The Tom Brady-backed Blues have brought a litany of marquee signings to St Andrew’s this summer, namely with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Tommy Doyle.
Wrexham, owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, have similarly enjoyed a stellar transfer window, typified recently with Wrexham’s £8m signing of Callum Doyle from Manchester City.
The ambitious Championship duo have been linked together in transfer races for several stars throughout the summer, and now the winner has emerged in the race to sign an in-demand Liverpool talent.
Lewis Koumas during Stoke City vs Oxford United
Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images
Birmingham City beat Wrexham to Lewis Koumas loan signing
Several Championship sides have been targeting Liverpool starlet Lewis Koumas after his impressive stint on loan at Stoke City last season.
Earlier in the window, reports emerged that Sheffield United were keen on Koumas, who scored six goals and notched three assists in 49 games for Stoke last term.
Following that, it came to light that several Championship sides were interested in Koumas, with the newly promoted duo of Birmingham and Wrexham named as suitors for the 19-year-old winger, as well as Norwich City and Hull City.
Atop the long list of suitors, Birmingham and Wrexham were the two frontrunners for Koumas, but now the Blues have won the race for the youngster.
Fabrizio Romano revealed on X: “Liverpool talent Lewis Koumas has decided to join Birmingham City on season long loan.
🚨⚪️🔵 EXCL: Liverpool talent Lewis Koumas has decided to join Birmingham City on season long loan.
Agreement reached now and medical to follow next, 19 year old winger will play for #BCFC. Here we go ✔️ pic.twitter.com/te5ckpGb9C
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 22, 2025
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“Agreement reached now and medical to follow next, 19 year old winger will play for #BCFC. Here we go”.
Although Koumas is a Welsh international, he has opted against a move to Wrexham in favour of a season-long loan at Birmingham.
Chris Davies of Birmingham
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Birmingham City to sign ‘brilliant’ talent in Lewis Koumas
After making his senior debut for Liverpool in the 2023/24 season, highly-rated Koumas was sent out on loan to Stoke, where he continued his development on course to becoming a Premier League level talent.
Koumas finished his Potters stint with six goals, with two of those strikes coming in a 3-3 FA Cup draw against Cardiff City, which Stoke would eventually lose 4-2 on penalties.
Despite the defeat, Stoke boss Mark Robins hailed the “brilliant” performance of Koumas after his impressive brace.
Robins told Stoke City’s media: “I thought we showed a brilliant character, and worked our way into a 2-1 with a brilliant move and brilliant goal from Lewis Koumas.
“I thought that sort of typifies everything that we want from him and know he is capable of, and then he gets his second and brings us back to level.”
Koumas’ presence was crucial to help Robins keep Stoke safe from relegation, and now the 19-year-old will be hoping to help Blues boss Chris Davies in his quest to achieve a successive promotion to the top flight this season.