Birmingham City winger Juninho Bacuna is set to leave St. Andrew’s for Turkish top-flight club Sivasspor over the weekend, marking the latest departure following their relegation from the Championship in May.
Birmingham City is undergoing significant changes this summer, driven by their ambitious Stateside owners who are determined to steer the club back to success in English football’s third tier after relegation. This anticipated overhaul, long-awaited by many fans even at the cost of losing their Championship status, has already seen 12 players exit following last season’s relegation campaign. In addition, Chris Davies, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, has taken charge as Head Coach, replacing Tony Mowbray due to health reasons.
Juninho Bacuna, a versatile midfielder for Birmingham City, is on the verge of joining Turkish club Sivasspor after the club accepted an undisclosed offer. Bacuna, who has played 111 games since arriving from Rangers two-and-a-half years ago, will not be part of Birmingham’s preseason trip to Austria as negotiations progress.
Notably, Bacuna’s impending move comes after Alex Pritchard’s recent transfer to Sivasspor, making him the second Birmingham player to make such a move this summer. Despite interest from Sassuolo in Serie A and Gaziantep in Turkey, Bacuna seems destined for Sivasspor.
While Bacuna demonstrated his talent with 13 goal contributions last season, his inconsistent performances and reported attitude issues have been a source of frustration among fans and management alike. Davies, eager to reshape the squad with a fresh perspective, sees the signing of Emil Hansson as a signal of this new direction.
Ultimately, Bacuna’s departure aligns with Birmingham’s efforts to rebuild under new leadership, aiming for a more focused and united squad to navigate the challenges of League One effectively.