Birmingham City are demonstrating significant ambition in the January transfer market, with a deal now imminent for Spanish winger Carlos Vicente. The 26-year-old arrived in England on Monday evening to finalise his move from La Liga side Deportivo Alaves, following a successful medical and the agreement of personal terms.
Transfer Details and Competition
The Blues have reportedly agreed a fee in the region of £7 million with Deportivo Alaves, seeing off late interest from Dutch powerhouse Ajax in the process. Vicente was granted permission to travel after featuring and scoring in his final match for Alaves against Real Betis this past Sunday. His arrival at the airport was captured by Spanish media outlet El Chiringuito TV, alongside his representative Eduardo Llanos.
A Busy Window for Blues
Should the transfer be completed without any last-minute complications, Vicente will become the fifth new face to join Birmingham City this month. The club has already secured the services of Kai Wagner, Jhon Solis, Ibrahim Osman, and August Priske as manager Chris Davies aims to bolster his squad for a potential push towards the play-off positions.
Player Profile and Attributes
Carlos Vicente brings a specific skill set to St Andrew's. Primarily a right-winger, he has contributed 10 goals and three assists across all competitions for Alaves this season, despite not always being a guaranteed starter. His tally includes five goals in La Liga—with notable strikes against both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid—and five in the Copa del Rey.
Last campaign, he was a more consistent fixture, making 35 league starts and registering 10 direct goal contributions. Manager Chris Davies has explicitly sought to add pace, physicality, and athleticism to his attacking options, and Vicente fits that mould perfectly. He is described as a fast, direct wide player who prefers to beat defenders with sheer speed and drive towards the byline rather than relying on elaborate trickery.
Tactical Fit and Manager's Vision
Vicente is expected to provide direct competition for Patrick Roberts on the right flank, offering a different stylistic option. His potential addition adds another layer of unpredictability and vertical threat to Birmingham's attacking play. Eduardo Coudet, his former manager at Alaves, highlighted Vicente's dribbling ability and capacity to create chances from individual moments, though noted he is more effective in wide areas than centrally.
This strategic recruitment underscores Birmingham City's aggressive approach to the winter window as they aim to build a squad capable of sustaining a challenge in the league's upper reaches under Davies's leadership.
