Kai Wagner sale to Birmingham City announced

Kai Wagner is trading navy blue and gold for royal blue, joining English Championship club Birmingham City FC in a transfer deal that’s been finalized for the Philadelphia Union’s 28-year-old star left back.

The fee wasn’t disclosed in announcements made by both clubs on Friday afternoon, but it’s believed to be in the $2.5 million range, an offer that feels low for a player as valuable as Wagner has been to the team since his arrival to Chester in 2019.

“The contributions Kai has made to this club over the last seven seasons have been nothing short of exceptional,” Philadelphia Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell said in a news release. “He has been a crucial piece of this team’s success over the past seven seasons, and we remain grateful not only for his consistent dedication and hard work, but his staunch leadership qualities both on and off the field. At this time, we are honoring Kai’s wishes to continue his career in Europe, as he feels this is the right step for him and his family. We wish him all the best and know he will continue to find success.”

Wagner was entering the third year of a three-year deal he signed to stay at the club in 2024 after being at the center of trade rumor reports online. The Union reportedly promised Wagner that if an offer that met a certain threshold came through they would accept it.

“At the beginning of December we had some small talks, a nice Zoom call,” Wagner said in an interview for Birmingham City’s website. “They told me about the whole project, and it gave me goosebumps straight from the beginning.”

Wagner signed a contract with his new club through the summer of 2028 and will likely get a handsome raise from the $1,088, 250 he was guaranteed playing for the Union in 2025.

The two-time MLS Best XI defender is the second starter on the Union back line to be sold this offseason after center back Jakob Glesnes was transferred to LA Galaxy for up to $2.2 million. Leading goal-scorer Tai Baribo was also recently sold for up to $4.6 million to D.C. United.