£2m Birmingham City deal with Brentford had controversy but it was a strong signing: View | OneFootball

Birmingham City signed Harlee Dean from Brentford in 2017 and it turned out to be a rather good signing.

Highlights

Birmingham City have seen many players come and go from the club in recent years.

Sadly, a lot of them have been unsuccessful, which has resulted in the Blues being at the bottom end of the Championship for a little while ahead of their relegation.

However, out of the large number of players that have underwhelmed and disappointed, there have also been some bright additions that have turned out to have done well at Birmingham City.

Harlee Dean could be described as a successful signing for Birmingham, as while it had its controversy at times, he proved a useful servant.

Indeed, the £2 million fee that the Blues paid under former manager Harry Redknapp was a good deal for the club.

Redknapp had just helped keep Birmingham City in the Championship during the 2016/17 season and was given the reins for the following campaign.

The former Portsmouth manager was keen to put together a strong side at Birmingham to try to avoid a repeat of the previous campaign.

In that 2017 summer, the Blues were struggling to keep hold of Ryan Shotton, as he was wanted by Middlesbrough, and the only way the club would let him leave was if they found a replacement.

Their search took them to Dean, who had entered the final year of his contract at Brentford and he failed to agree new terms with the Bees.

Birmingham were successful in their pursuit of Dean, as the Blues reportedly agreed to a fee worth around £2 million to take the centre-back out of West London.

Dean was their 10th signing that summer, and while there were difficult moments at times, it turned out to be a very successful purchase.

Harlee Dean turned out to be a good signing for Birmingham City

Dean’s loan move from Southampton to Brentford was the first step in the player’s career when he really came to light.

The defender went on to play over 200 games for the Bees, helping the club reach the Championship and coming ever so close to the Premier League.

However, in 2017, it seemed he was keen for a fresh start, and that was where his move to Birmingham City materialised.

Dean joined the Blues as an established Championship defender, as he was a firm regular in the Brentford side, and the hope would have been that he could help improve Birmingham’s defence.

Dean did make Birmingham City better, but he couldn’t do it alone. The defender spent four full seasons with the Midlands side, as well as half a campaign in the 2021/22 season, before leaving for Sheffield Wednesday.

Birmingham paid near enough £2 million to sign Dean – a lot of money for the club – and he proved a useful servant in notching up 200 appearances in his six years at the club, which included a Player of the Year gong in 2020/21, but it was a tenure that had its controversy.

The divisive moment that will stay in the mind of most Bluenoses is his celebration after scoring against West Bromwich Albion in 2019. Dean cupped his ears to his own fans – a move he would later apologise for but one that didn't go down well with the St Andrew's support and, indeed, some never forgave him.

There will no doubt be parts of the fanbase that think of Dean and the £2 million transfer as a disappointment but his service to Blues should not be forgotten. Controversy aside, he was a strong signing.