Birmingham City have finally quenched their thirst for a Championship-proven left-sided centre-back with the signing of Dael Fry on a free transfer following the conclusion of his contract at Middlesbrough.
Ending the Search for Ben Davies' Successor
Blues have searched high and low for a successor to Ben Davies, who partnered skipper Christoph Klarer so brilliantly during the League One title-winning season. However, Eiran Cashin, Jack Robinson, and Jonathan Panzo did not meet the standard required. That resulted in Klarer playing slightly out of position to accommodate Phil Neumann, who was by far the second most reliable central defender on Blues' books last season.
Fry may be right-footed, but the 28-year-old has played the vast majority of his football on the left side of Middlesbrough's defence in the Championship, and that is where we should expect him to play for Blues. The search is over, and Blues have landed one of the most proven centre-backs in the second tier.
A Proven Championship Performer
Fry has started 248 games in the Championship since making his Middlesbrough debut in 2015. He ticks so many boxes for promotion-chasing Blues. Fry has the second tier experience that Chris Davies admitted his team lacked last season, he has consistently competed at the top of the league, and is able to play to Klarer's left.
The fact that Blues have weakened a direct rival for promotion in Middlesbrough and prevented West Ham and Wrexham – both of whom coveted Fry – from bagging one of the Championship's best defenders is another feather in the club's cap. After weeks of eerie silence at St Andrew's, with only the permanent acquisition of Jhon Solis to shout about, supporters are buoyed by the news of Fry's arrival.
The Only Downside: Injury Concerns
There really is only one possible downside to this deal, and that is Fry's injury history. Fry doesn't boast the availability record of Klarer, having maxed out at 36 Championship games. The 28-year-old had issues in the 2024/25 campaign, meaning he only started 15 league games for Boro, but he proved his fitness last term by playing 34 games across all competitions.
Boro did, however, have to manage his fitness at various points in the season and even held Fry back on occasions. If Blues can get another 30-odd games out of him in next season's Championship, you wouldn't bet against them being in the promotion conversation as Boro were last, because when Fry plays there are few better in this league.
