Go Ahead Eagles CEO Jan Willem van Dop has stated that Birmingham City gave the Dutch club the opportunity to re-sign Willum Willumsson during their negotiations for Alfons Sampsted.

The offensive midfielder joined Blues from the Eredivisie club in the summer of 2024 for a cost of around £3.5 million, a substantial spend given Chris Davies’ team was in League One at the time.

It was also a significant step down for the player, who had previously starred in the Dutch top flight with Go Ahead Eagles, but he will feel vindicated after Birmingham won the title by a landslide, with the Icelandic midfielder playing a crucial role in the attacking third.

Birmingham City has offered Willum Willumsson to the Go Ahead Eagles.

However, elevation to the Championship resulted in more investment in Davies’ team, and Willumsson has found it more difficult to get game time.

While his season has been delayed by injury, the 27-year-old has only made eleven league games, the majority of which have come from the bench.

As a result, it’s not surprising that the Blues are willing to let him go this month, as Van Dop disclosed to Dutch media outlet Voetbal Primeur that during the club-to-club talks over Sampsted, the Championship side offered them the option to sign Willumsson as well.

“I called my colleague in Birmingham, and he asked if we could discuss Willum. “So, no matter how good a player you are, that doesn’t guarantee success in a league like the Championship,” Van Dop added.

“There is no place for us there, and I have to be honest. Apparently, I believe his physical condition is trailing, which puts a guy like that in a very unusual scenario.”

Willum Willumsson’s departure from Birmingham City could be beneficial to both him and the club.

First and foremost, Willumsson may not appreciate van Dop making these statements public, but it is understandable why Birmingham may have offered him to the Go Ahead Eagles.

He was fantastic for them a few years ago, so the opportunity to return may have appealed given his lack of starts for Blues, but it is certainly not going to happen.

That does not rule out a move before the deadline, as Willumsson will undoubtedly have suitors now that he appears to be available.

He played an important role in the League One title win last season, but Davies now has better options at his disposal, and with Willumsson’s contract extending until 2028, Blues will know the next two windows are the best opportunity to cash in.

So, this is one to keep an eye on in the final week of the window, though the attacker may still play a part during the run-in if he stays.