If anyone thought Birmingham were scaling back their ambitions after failing to reach the Premier League last season, they should think again today.

As exclusively revealed by Daily Mail Sport, Blues have appointed former Manchester United transfer chief John Murtough as their new director of football.

The remit is wide and yet narrow. He will oversee every area of the club but when the 55-year-old was approached for the job, the priority will have been clear – help us reach the Premier League.

Daily Mail Sport looks at why Blues went for Murtough and what he will be expected to deliver at St Andrew’s...

Promotion plans

Murtough was director of football for three years at Old Trafford and left in April 2024, soon after Sir Jim Ratcliffe took control. He had also been United’s academy manager and director of development.

Knighthead’s plan for Blues is predicated on reaching the Premier League. They have invested heavily in transfers but not always made the right calls, as the summer 2025 recruitment drive proved. High wages were paid to players like Kyogo Furuhashi, who had little impact and left after a year.

During 11 years at Old Trafford, Murtough became known as ‘The Fixer’ and was instrumental in the appointment of Erik ten Hag. While the Dutchman divided opinion, he did deliver the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup – no small achievements in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Murtough was a driving force behind the women’s team at United. He also overhauled the approach to academy recruitment to target some of the best age-group players overseas. One of those who arrived on his watch was Alejandro Garnacho, who scored 26 goals and had 22 assists in 144 games and was sold to Chelsea for £40million.

Even though Murtough was criticised when players like Antony and Rasmus Hojlund struggled, there are those at United who feel his influence has been missed since his departure.

Birmingham hope to enjoy the fruits of that now. When Knighthead took control three years ago, they spoke of hiring ‘exceptional leaders’. The Americans are convinced Murtough fits the bill.

Recruitment shift?

Nobody would doubt Craig Gardner’s commitment or work ethic, yet his approach to recruitment could be haphazard at times.

Blues are convinced that will change under Murtough. The summer window was overseen by the impressive Joe Carnall, whose reputation in the game is growing, and he would be a strong lieutenant to Murtough.

Carnall is an expert in coding and analytics tools. There are numerous metrics within Blues’ data model, most of which are guarded closely to ensure rivals do not gain a competitive edge. But no player will be signed unless he clears the data checks.

In recent times, Blues under Knighthead have insisted any transfer target should have up to three seasons’ senior football under his belt. They have also prioritised durability and have prioritised players in their mid-20s, although Colombian midfielder Jhon Solis is a notable exception. Solis has only just turned 22 but is already worth at least double the £6.5m Blues paid Girona for him last summer.

It will be interesting to see whether Murtough tries to alter this. Blues believe his vast experience and long list of contacts across the global game will open doors for them. Though Gardner did a fine job as technical director and was admired by Knighthead, Murtough is the kind of guy who can make football’s big players pick up the phone.

Academy issues

Birmingham's youth set-up has been one of the top priorities for Knighthead since they took charge. After years of neglect by previous ownership groups, the Americans feel they have been playing catch-up for too long.

While Aston Villa have invested heavily in their academy and West Bromwich Albion’s is admired across the country, Blues have struggled. Blues’ academy was awarded category one status in May 2025 – a significant step forward – but attracting top talent across the region and beyond has still been a challenge.

Of course, Birmingham did produce Jude Bellingham, possibly the finest English footballer of his generation and one of the best on the planet. His younger brother, Jobe, and Jordan James, also made the first team before moving on but Blues want more.

If anyone can rectify that, it is Murtough. During his first spell with Everton’s academy, Wayne Rooney advanced to the first team. He also helped shape the system that delivered Jack Rodwell and Ross Barkley to the senior side. At United, Kobbie Mainoo progressed from a nine-year-old hopeful to a Premier League starter while Murtough was in place. Anthony Elanga and Garnacho also had useful United careers.

In the era of strict financial rules, developing homegrown players is essential – even if they do not establish themselves in the first team. As unromantic as it is, these players can be sold for pure profit with the money reinvested into recruitment.

The best place to implement such plans is the Premier League. Along with boss Chris Davies and his squad, Birmingham are counting on Murtough to take them there.