Tom Brady's Birmingham Poised to Steal Inter Miami's Top Transfer Target
Birmingham City, co-owned by Tom Brady, are reportedly close to securing Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner, according to German media sources—a player who had previously attracted interest from David Beckham's MLS Cup-winning Inter Miami.
Wagner has been connected with a potential switch to South Florida following seven campaigns with the Union, where he was instrumental in their 2020 and 2025 Supporters' Shield triumphs and earned three MLS All-Star selections.
However, instead of joining Miami, it appears the club partially owned by the former New England Patriots signal-caller is on the verge of landing the 28-year-old. Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg indicates a €2.3 million ($2.7 million) deal is nearly finalized, with the defender already in England as the transfer approaches completion.
Previously with Schalke 04 and FC Würzburger, Wagner brings European experience but has primarily developed his skills with the Union. Throughout his MLS tenure, he's recorded a remarkable 53 assists across 153 appearances, while also netting 10 goals and establishing himself as one of the league's premier attacking fullbacks.
Birmingham's Ultimate Goal: Premier League Promotion
Brady holds a minority stake in Shelby Companies Limited, a Knighthead Capital subsidiary, and their complete acquisition of Birmingham was finalized in November when they purchased the remaining 51.1% available shares.
While the Championship club's financial resources may not rival Miami's, Brady's involvement has undoubtedly elevated their profile—similar to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's impact at Wrexham—enabling transfers that were previously unattainable.
Miami shouldn't be overly concerned about losing Wagner. They've pursued alternative fullback options, bringing in Spanish free agent Sergio Reguilón, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, plus Jamaica international Ian Fray for the opposite flank.
The challenge facing Javier Mascherano, Lionel Messi and their teammates will be defending their MLS Cup title, while Birmingham's ultimate objective remains Premier League promotion. That goal may need patience given the fierce competition for advancement, though they've previously competed at English football's highest level.
Should Wagner complete his transfer, he'll join Patrick Agyemang and George Campbell as players who've swapped MLS for the Championship in 2025.