Birmingham City fans say same thing after Krystian Bielik seals West Brom transfer
Krystian Bielik has completed his transfer across the West Midlands from Birmingham City to West Brom.
Moving to a rival in football can be controversial, but it has happened in the second city on countless occasions.
Ben Foster, Geoff Horsfield and Liam Ridgewell have all joined West Brom from Birmingham over the years.
Now, Blues supporters have taken to social media to express their feelings on Bielik's transfer to The Hawthorns.
What Birmingham fans said about Bielik's move to West Brom
Bielik has signed for West Brom for a fee believed to be in excess of £1million, although it has been classed as undisclosed.
The centre-back's love affair with Birmingham began in 2017, when he spent the second half of the season on loan from Arsenal.
During his teenage years with the Gunners, his manager, Arsene Wenger, offered Bielik significant praise.
“He’s a very strong player, he’s 17, he has a very good technical level and looks intelligent. But we’ll have to give him a little time to settle and adapt,” Wenger said via the Daily Mail in March 2015.
- Made two senior appearances for Arsenal
- Played for Birmingham during various spells between 2017-2025
The Polish international joined the Blues on loan again, this time from Derby County in 2022, before sealing a permanent switch in 2023.
Bielik made a total of 125 appearances for Birmingham during his various stints, and supporters are sad to see him go, but understand the move.
Indeed, the view is almost universal in that regard, with many simply unable to hold a grudge despite crossing the divide.
Is Bielik's move across the West Midlands controversial?
While Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Sol Campbell caused a stir by moving between clubs, Bielik's switch is not as controversial.
The centre back was a popular figure at St Andrew's, but with promotion to the Championship, playing time was bound to be sparse.
With that in mind, there is a feeling of understanding among sections of Birmingham supporters, although he may get a frosty reception from some when the sides meet.
Of course, Bielik's reputation could hinge on how he plays against the Blues and how he conducts himself.
If he were to celebrate a goal, then his reputation among the Birmingham faithful would diminish.
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