Birmingham City and Wrexham are reportedly set to suffer a setback in their pursuit of a summer transfer target ahead of the 2025-26 Championship season.
After securing promotion from League One, both sides were linked with a move for Swansea City defender Harry Darling. Having declined a new contract with the South Wales side, the defender will be starting next season with a new club.
Despite their significant financial backing, Birmingham City and Wrexham are set to miss out on Darling’s signature as he is reportedly in the process of finalising a deal to join Norwich City. Should the deal be completed, the defender will reunite with his former head coach, Liam Manning.
Who is Harry Darling?
Darling started his career in East Anglia with Cambridge United and made his debut for the U’s in 2016. The defender had loan spells in non-league with Bishop’s Stortford, Hampton & Richmond and East Thurrock United before a regular run of games in Cambridge’s first team.
After impressing in League Two, the 25 year old stepped up to League One with Milton Keynes Dons in 2021. After finishing third with the Buckinghamshire side, the defender moved up the pyramid again and joined Swansea City.
Darling has made over 100 appearances for the Swans and shown his ability to excel in the second tier. His performances have seen him linked with a number of clubs including newly promoted duo, Birmingham City and Wrexham.
Despite interest from the two sides, Darling is reportedly edging closer to signing for Norwich City ahead of the 2025-26 season.
What are Birmingham City and Wrexham missing out on?
Despite predominantly playing as a centre-back during his career, one attribute that Darling would bring to his new side is adaptability. During his spell at MK Dons, the 25 year old played in a back three but also has the ability to play in a back four having done so at Swansea last season.
Darling’s main attribute that he can bring to a defence is his ball-playing ability. The former defender has played under possession-heavy managers in Russell Martin, Liam Manning and Luke Williams and has shown this with a 87.8% pass completion rate last season at an average of 56.66 passes per 90 minutes.
His ability to drive his team up the pitch is another attribute he’ll bring to his new side. Darling is comfortable with the ball at his feet and completed on average 3.7 progressive passes and 1.05 progressive carries per 90 minutes.
The 25 year old can add a goal threat from defence for his new side. Last season, Darling scored five goals for Swansea and according to Fotmob’s player traits he scored more goals than 95% of players in his position in the Championship.
Would this be a good move for Harry Darling?
Given his recent performances at Championship level, it is understandable why Darling is wanted by numerous clubs including Birmingham City and Wrexham. The question will be whether the defender’s expected move to Carrow Road will be a good decision.
Given Wrexham’s style of play and lack of possession based football, it seems like a wise decision from Darling not to make the move to North Wales. The 25 year old may have opted for the Canaries over Birmingham City because of potential increased game time.
Norwich ranked 19th for goals conceded in the Championship with an average of 1.5 per match which may suggest they are looking to rebuild their defence with Darling at the heart of it. Birmingham City, albeit in a lower division, did have the best defence in League One with 0.7 goals conceded per match and 22 clean sheets.
This defensive solidity from the Blues may lead to them looking to keep a settled defence heading into the Championship which may have required Darling to fight for his place in the starting line up. On top of this, Chris Davies’ side will have Phil Neumann adding to competition in the squad at St Andrews having signed from Hannover 96.
The move will likely be a good one for Darling with the ability to play a possession heavy style of football under a familiar face in Manning. Whilst the setback will be a blow to Birmingham City and Wrexham in their pursuit to recruit Championship experience for their squads, both sides will no doubt flex their financial muscles to recruit other targets ahead of the 2025-26 season.