Birmingham City are reportedly set to sign former Coventry City and Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo.placeholder image
Birmingham City are reportedly set to sign former Coventry City and Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo. | Getty Images
The latest Birmingham City transfer news on deadline day - as Chris Davies’ side near a surprise signing.
Birmingham City are reportedly set to sign Rio Ave central defender Jonathan Panzo ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.
Blues have been in the market for a new left-sided centre-half and Panzo, who was linked with a move to St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park in the summer of 2023, is seemingly a top target.
Portuguese publication Cabine Desportiva reports Panzo is ‘heading to Birmingham’ and has ‘already travelled to England’ ahead of a deadline day move. This is yet to be corroborated by sources in England, however Cabine Desportiva is adamant that Panzo will become a Birmingham player.
Chris Davies has been in need of a left-footed centre-half for quite some time and Panzo, if he does indeed join, will cover that base nicely. The 25-year-old, who has spent the past two seasons at Rio Ave, is heading into his prime years and he already has Championship experience.
Who is Jonathan Panzo?
Chelsea academy product Panzo began his senior career at Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco before moving to fellow French side Dijon, where he made his proper breakthrough. The ex-England Under-21 defender racked up 26 appearances for Dijon before being snapped up by Nottingham Forest back in 2022.
Forest hoped Panzo could progress up the ranks but he only ended up making one senior appearance for the club, instead being loaned out to fellow Championship sides. Coventry City got the best use out of Panzo as he impressed during the 2022/23 campaign, before less successful loan moves to Cardiff City and Standard Liege.
In the end, Panzo settled at Rio Ave as he enjoyed a loan to the Liga Portugal side in 2024/25 and joined permanently from Forest last summer. But now, just as quickly as he completed a long-term move to Portugal, he could be about to return to England for good. That is, of course, if the Birmingham rumours are to be believed.
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