Birmingham City’s start to 2026 has restored belief at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park that a play-off finish is possible in the remaining weeks and months of the Championship season.

That was certainly the case in the buildup to the Blues’ dismal goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion in B9 on Tuesday night.

However, all is not lost for Chris Davies and his reshuffled side. Despite having played one extra game than other second-tier competitors as a result of the aforementioned fixture rearrangement owing to Birmingham and the Baggies’ forthcoming FA Cup commitments, the Second City club is only one point behind sixth-place Wrexham with 14 league games remaining.

Few could have predicted the club’s quick rise to this position, especially after they were relegated to 17th place in all competitions after losing 3-0 to Watford on New Year’s Day at Vicarage Road.

It was well reported in the weeks leading up to and during the now-closed winter transfer window that the Blues manager needed to strengthen various areas of his squad with additional depth and quality.

Six new faces entered B9, including Patrick Roberts, whose loan move from Sunderland was made permanent, while a slew of marginal players left in search of much-needed personal gametime, which could not be guaranteed.

Throughout the first half of the season, it was widely acknowledged that, while the Blues have a few great technicians and ball carriers in the middle of the park, they were far too easy to play through on their travels.

Step forward Colombian midfielder Jhon Solis, who has already established his worth to Davies’ side in a matter of outings, and it would be no surprise if the 21-year-old becomes a permanent member of Birmingham’s squad in the summer in one of two ways.

Jhon Solis has been a welcome addition to the Birmingham City midfield line.

As has been the case with several signings made during Knighthead Capital Management’s ownership of St. Andrew’s, there was a lot of excitement surrounding Solis’ arrival – initially on a loan deal – which was announced hours before the 1-1 draw at Swansea City on January 17th.

Despite being only 21 years old, the 10-time youth international has plenty of pedigree and potential, as seen by ties to Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford, and West Ham United while with Colombian top-flight club Atletico Nacional.

Solis’ European breakthrough came with Girona FC, where he also appeared five times in the UEFA Champions League last season, underscoring how significant it was for Birmingham to reach a deal ahead of Mexican club Tigres UANL.

The 6’2″ player has only been with B9 for a month, but he has quickly established himself as a key member of Davies’ midfield alongside Paik Seung-ho and Tommy Doyle.

In just five games, Solis has averaged 4.4 recovery tackles, won more than half of his ground and aerial confrontations, and is seldom defeated in a one-on-one midfield combat.

Following his impressive performance against Oxford United on January 31st, Davies explained why he was wanted in the transfer window, saying: “I’ve been impressed with him. The physical side of English football will suit him since he has legs, strength, is willing to put his foot in, and can win headers. He’s got all of those off-the-ball moments.

“I admire the characteristics he possesses. He’s not one of those players who makes you wonder if he’s the perfect fit for England; he has the raw materials to succeed here.”

Those talents were on display again against Leicester City and West Brom at the start of a three-game week for Davies’ side, and Solis will look to demonstrate his potential against Premier League Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.

Birmingham City should have Jhon Solis in their long-term plans despite a transfer clause.

With Solis already in a high state of confidence, the Blues have become more solid in midfield, which was not always the case.

As Davies mentioned, his all-around combativeness and poise are well-suited to the English game, and it would be wise for the team to start planning for the future.

At the time of his loan agreement, it was claimed that Blues would pay Girona around £500,000 for a loan fee until the end of the season, and that Solis might make a permanent move worth £6.9 million in the summer due to two contingencies.

The first scenario is that the Blues decide to buy Solis outright for the aforementioned price, or that the midfielder signs automatically after 11 appearances.

With Paik suffering his second shoulder injury of the season against West Brom, Solis’ energy will be even more needed in the near term as Davies waits to hear the extent of the South Korean’s problem, while he is only six appearances away from activating the clause.