Osayi-Samuel Open to Welcoming Dele Alli at Birmingham City in January

Bright Osayi-Samuel has suggested that his new club, Birmingham City, could be a potential landing spot for former England international Dele Alli when the January transfer window opens.

The speculation arises because Alli is currently a free agent, and despite recent struggles, Birmingham reportedly still have a space available on their squad roster which could accommodate the ex-Tottenham star.

For Osayi-Samuel himself signed to Birmingham this summer after departing Turkish side Fenerbahçe the potential arrival of Alli would represent fresh competition and increased ambition at the club.

Birmingham’s manager has previously acknowledged that signing Alli would depend on fitness and squad balance underlining that any move would need to make sense on and off the pitch.

Editorial

There is a beguiling logic and a lurking danger in the idea of Dele Alli joining Birmingham City. For the club, the shake-up could be more than just headline grabbing it could be tactical reinvigoration. For Alli, it could be a final chance to remind football why once he wore the white heat of expectation. And for players like Osayi-Samuel, it would mean competition that demands growth, not comfort.

Alli’s name retains weight. His years at the peak at a Premier League powerhouse still carry currency. But those years are behind him, and what remains is a fragile body, a battered confidence, and whispers of fitness issues. To reignite a career at 29 is no small ask. It demands more than nostalgia. It demands discipline, hunger, and acceptance of a different role contributor, not star stabiliser, not sensation.

For Birmingham, the risk is clear. The Championship is ruthless. It punishes complacency, rewards consistency. A mis-fit signing even one with history can unsettle balance. But if the coaching staff truly believe in rehabilitation over hype if they manage minutes, morale, and expectation properly the gamble could pay off.

For Osayi-Samuel, the prospect brings a sharpened edge. Competition is rarely comfortable but it can bring out the best. If he embraces the challenge, develops further, he doesn’t weaken his position  he fortifies it.

Football thrives on redemption stories. Alli’s career, once dazzling, now treads near dusk. But if Birmingham can provide structure and support and if Alli imbibes humility we may see not just a transfer, but a transformation. In the Championship, sometimes the greatest goals are not scored on the pitch but off it, in character, in commitment.

Did You Know?

1. Bright Osayi-Samuel joined Birmingham City in July 2025, on a three-year contract after leaving Fenerbahçe.
2. Despite arriving with ambition, Osayi-Samuel has struggled for game time this season he has started only a minority of matches since October, often coming off the bench.
3. The club reportedly still has one available squad slot before January  which is part of why they remain linked to free agents such as Alli.
4. According to pundits, even at full fitness, Dele Alli might struggle to break immediately into Birmingham’s first XI  largely due to fitness uncertainty and the strong competition, especially in midfield and attack.
5. For Alli, the move could represent a return to English football after a turbulent period abroad: his most recent contract was with Italian club Como  but he was released following limited appearances.