Birmingham City in transfer hunt for 7-goal winger | OneFootball

Birmingham City are reportedly interested in a deal for NEC Nijmegen winger Sontje Hansen

Birmingham City have lodged an interest in NEC Nijmegen attacker Sontje Hansen as they bid to get to business and undertake yet another ambitious, big-spending transfer window following last season's record-breaking League One campaign.

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Birmingham are among a clutch of clubs eyeing a move for Hansen's services this summer.

Blues will undoubtedly be looking to make a statement of intent back in the Championship after gaining promotion from League One as champions with a record-breaking points haul of 111.

The financial backing from Knighthead is clear, and Birmingham, alongside fellow big-spenders Wrexham, are reportedly poised to compete with both newly-relegated Championship sides in Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton and even certain Premier League outfits for transfer targets this summer.

It's not yet clear what sort of interest Hansen has, but Birmingham will hope their financial might and increasing pullpower due to the club's ambitious upwards trajectory can tempt the winger into a move to St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Birmingham City's transfer interest in NEC Nijmegen's Sontje Hansen

As per Joseph's update, Birmingham have "expressed their interest" in Hansen ahead of a potential deal this summer.

It is claimed by Joseph that an undisclosed and unnamed number of clubs are keen on landing the 23-year-old's services following two solid campaigns in the Dutch top-flight with Nijmegen after joining from Ajax in the summer of 2023.

Hansen, who was widely-billed as a prodigious talent in his youth with both Ajax and the Dutch national age-group sides, scored six times in the Eredivisie and seven across all competitions in 2024/25, while also providing four assists.

His goal and assist returns in league action over the last two seasons are identical, although he would be expected to increase his output in the Championship.

Nijmegen have security over Hansen's immediate future and would likely need to part with a handsome fee, as he remains under contract with Dick Schreuder's side for another two years.

Interestingly, Birmingham themselves were linked with a move for Hansen last summer, which does suggest the Second City outfit may hold a long-term interest.

Birmingham City transfer target Sontje Hansen has previously had interest from Burnley and Leeds United

Hansen's name will already be familiar to some, as he has previously been linked with both Leeds United and Burnley. The two sides, of course, gained automatic promotion to the Premier League with 100 points apiece in 24/25.

Last summer, Leeds were linked with a move for Hansen in their efforts to replace fellow countryman Crysencio Summerville, who joined West Ham United. Their interest, it would seem, never came to much, although Burnley made a more profound attempt to land the winger in January.

According to Joseph, Burnley enquired about a loan with a £3.5 million purchase option, but that approach was knocked back as the Clarets instead moved on to alternative targets.

Nonetheless, when you consider that two sides in the Championship seemingly wanted to add Hansen to the ranks of promotion-winning teams, this could be - once again - a seriously exciting signing for Birmingham to complete.