Siriki Dembele: Birmingham City sign winger from Bournemouth
- Published
Siriki Dembele made his name at Peterborough United where he scored 31 times in 148 games across three and a half seasons
Birmingham City have signed winger Siriki Dembele for an undisclosed fee from AFC Bournemouth.
Dembele has joined on a three-year contract after Tahith Chong left Blues to move to Premier League newcomers Luton Town.
The 26-year-old played 22 times for Bournemouth, scoring two goals, but he spent the second half of last season on loan at French club Auxerre.
He becomes Birmingham's sixth signing this summer.
Dembele's arrival follows those of Tyler Roberts, Krystian Bielik, Ethan Laird and Koji Miyoshi, while Kevin Long signed a new contract with the club after initially being released.
"It made perfect sense to come here, it looks like it is going to be a new and exciting project, so I thought it would be a great move for me," Dembele told the club website., external
Dembele made his name at Peterborough United where he scored 31 times in 148 games and was part of the team that won promotion from League One in 2020-21.
He then joined Bournemouth in January 2022 and netted twice in 13 Championship appearances as the Cherries gained automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
However, he did not score for them in the top flight and then failed to find the net in his 12 games in Ligue 1.
But he hopes that returning to the Championship will see him regain his best form.
He said: "I spent a year in the Championship, with two different clubs, and it went really well. I'm looking to replicate the same form for Birmingham, if not even better."
'We aim to be world class'
Since leaving Manchester City, Garry Cook has worked for UFC and the Saudi Pro League
Dembele's arrival comes a day after it was confirmed that US-based Shelby Companies Limited (SCL) completed their takeover of the club.
SCL is a subsidiary of Knighthead Capital Management, whose co-founder and co-chief executive Tom Wagner will serve as chairman of the board.
He will be joined by new chief executive officer, Garry Cook.
A lifelong Birmingham fan, Cook held a similar role with Manchester City between 2008 and 2011, and he is aiming to a create a "world class" environment around the club.
"The landscape of Birmingham is continuing to positively change," he said.
"It's young, multicultural and dynamic. It is time for the football club that bears its name, and shares its values, to add to this exciting story.
"With the support of Tom and the Knighthead team, and in partnership with the city of Birmingham, we aim to be world class in everything that we do."
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