Liverpool star among 11 players to leave club during January transfer window

Willum Willumsson has completed a permanent transfer to NEC Nijmegen from Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee, becoming the 11th player to leave the club this transfer window

Lewis Koumas spent the first half of the season on loan at Birmingham City(Image: Getty Images)

Birmingham City has offloaded Willum Willumsson to NEC Nijmegen on the penultimate day of the transfer window.

The 27-year-old was omitted from Birmingham's squad for Saturday's 2-0 win over Oxford to allow him to complete his return to the Netherlands. He becomes the 11th senior player to exit the team during this window, joining a Liverpool player in that exclusive club.

That Reds star is Lewis Koumas, who was sent back to Anfield after scoring just once in 25 games for Birmingham. The 20-year-old midfielder joined the Blues on a season-long loan deal last summer, but he failed to show his best form in the West Midlands.

Koumas didn't stay on Merseyside long after his loan at Birmingham was cut short. He was immediately loaned to Hull and made an immediate impact, scoring a late winner in his debut on Saturday.

The Tigers won 1-0 at Blackburn to move up to third in the table.

"I was just thinking all last night about getting a chance when I get on - and scoring it if it came," said Koumas. So, really happy to score and get the three points."

Koumas scored on his Hull debut on Saturday(Image: Getty Images)

As well as Willumsson and Koumas, the other nine senior players to leave Birmingham during this window are Dion Sanderson, Emil Hansson, Keshi Anderson, Lyndon Dykes, Alfons Sampsted, Alfie Chang, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Tommy Fogarty, and Marc Leonard.

Willumsson arrived at Blues from Go Ahead Eagles in what was considered one of the standout signings of the summer 2024 transfer window.

But he struggled to secure a regular place in Chris Davies' starting XI following promotion to the Championship.

The Blues have consequently decided to remove Willumsson from their wage bill, with NEC, currently sitting fourth in the Eredivisie, providing him with an opportunity to return to Dutch soccer.

Willumsson becomes the latest in a lengthy list of summer 2024 signings to depart the club.

The Blues now retain just six players from the 17 they brought in during that transfer window.

They are not anticipated to bring in a replacement for Willumsson, instead placing their faith in Kanya Fujimoto, who has made only two fleeting Championship appearances, to offer backup for Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield.

Willumsson netted seven goals across his 60 outings for Birmingham.