Inside st andrew’s: kanya fujimoto issue as krystian bielik sends blues message

THE LATEST BIRMINGHAM CITY NOTEBOOK FEATURES KANYA FUJIMOTO, PHIL NEUMANN, KRYSTIAN BIELIK AND TOM WAGNER 12:18, 21 May 2025 Birmingham City are tracking Kanya Fujimoto ahead of their return

to the Championship – but an innocuous injury is holding up the Japanese playmaker. Fujimoto, 25, will become a free agent this summer when his contract at Portuguese side Gil Vicente

expires. After five years in Portugal, Fujimoto could take on a new challenge. Blues are among those interested but suitors are waiting to learn the extent of the injury which ruled Fujimoto

out of Gil Vicente’s final three matches of the Primeira Liga season. Fujimoto felt pain in his knee during the warm up for Gil Vicente’s match with Sporting on May 4 and subsequently

missed games against Arouca and Rio Ave. The attacking midfielder enjoyed his most productive campaign in the Portuguese top flight with five goals and five assists from his 30 appearances.

This is a rare injury for Fujimoto who had enjoyed three almost ever-present seasons for Gil Vicente before pulling up earlier this month. Article continues below NEUMANN WAVES GOODBYE Phil

Neumann is a Blues player in all but contract now after playing his final game for Hannover 96. Fittingly, the Bundesliga II draw specialists concluded their campaign with a 1-1 draw with

Hertha Berlin. Reflecting on his last stand for Hannover, Neumann said: “Thank you Hannover for three wonderful years.” The defender recently visited St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park with his

fiancée and child and viewed some houses ahead of their move to England in the summer. KRYSTIAN BIELIK’S REFLECTIONS One of the club’s existing defenders, Krystian Bielik, has enjoyed a

whirlwind May. Blues have partied since lifting the League One trophy and their captain has been front and centre. A group of players went to Ibiza to celebrate Blues’ historic season before

going off on their own holidays with their families. Bielik, who was a mainstay in Blues’ XI in the first half of the campaign before losing his place after Christmas, said: “I am not gonna

lie, it's been a tough and busy month. “This team! What a fantastic group of players and special people. We had a great season. Miss you all already That horse, WOW… what a beast. One

day in my stable I promise. “Time to relax, reflect and recover. Can’t wait for what the future holds. Bluenoses you have been incredible through this season and you deserve it all. Honestly

hats off. “Whoever you are and whatever you do I wish you well! See you soon.” BLUES X WREXHAM Blues and Wrexham will never have a rivalry but their owners have forged one between

themselves. Blues featured prominently on the latest season of Welcome to Wrexham and the Red Dragons are likely to see that favour returned when the series documenting Blues’

record-breaking season airs on Amazon Prime this summer. In a jovial video on his personal Instagram account, Tom Wagner bought back the ‘McElhenney 12’ shirt Blues investor Tom Brady gifted

to Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney on his visit to St Andrew’s last September. Wagner was filmed inside a Classic Football Shirts shop – a company part-owned by McElhenney – and said: “Not

only will I buy back Tom’s gift to Rob, but I would love for the money from this cheque to go to the Wrexham AFC foundation who are sharing a mission to improve the lives of people,

especially young people, through sport. Article continues below “It’s the least I could do after Rob didn’t appreciate this incredible gift. Shame on you, Rob.” BIRMINGHAM CITY CHAMPIONS

2024/25 RECORD-BREAKING Birmingham City are back in the Championship. Chris Davies' side passed the 100-point mark on their way to taking the League One title this season. And this

Birmingham Mail promotion special charts the brilliant Blues' path to glory, with match-by-match analysis, reaction, comment, brilliant celebration pictures and a Champions poster in

the middle pages. Buy now and have it delivered directly to your door. Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in Birmingham

from May 9, 2025.