The jury remains out on Bright Osayi-Samuel following his first season at Birmingham City, but the club does not need to seek a replacement for the summer signing.
A Challenging Start at St Andrew's
Osayi-Samuel, who joined from Fenerbahce last summer, started only 19 of Birmingham's 46 Championship games. Despite his experience in the Championship with Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, his transition back to English football has been uneven. The winger-turned-right-back, now a key player for Nigeria with 35 caps, has shown glimpses of his quality but has yet to consistently replicate the form that made him a standout at QPR.
His best performance came on the opening night against Ipswich Town, setting a high standard he has struggled to maintain. However, a strong display against Wrexham helped ease pressure on manager Chris Davies and sparked a five-game unbeaten run that salvaged a positive end to the season.
Adapting to a New Role
Osayi-Samuel ended the campaign as the first-choice right-back, looking more comfortable in a simplified system. Davies has praised his defensive solidity and recovery speed, noting that his partnership with Carlos Vicente has been effective. Unlike earlier in the season, when the right-back was expected to be everywhere, Osayi-Samuel now focuses on defensive duties, supporting Vicente only when necessary.
Davies commented: "Bright's done really well. He's had his best form of the season recently, coinciding with the way we're playing. He can show his strength and power in this role."
Future Prospects
The question remains whether Osayi-Samuel can consistently outperform Ethan Laird and convince Davies that he is the long-term solution at right-back. Davies has previously described Tomoki Iwata as a right-back who can play in midfield, adding competition. But for now, Osayi-Samuel's recent improvement means Birmingham City do not need to rush into signing a new right-back.
While expectations were higher for the 28-year-old, his progress in the latter part of the season offers hope for the future.
