Romelle Donovan is taking his transfer chance and Birmingham City will benefit big time
Birmingham City loaned Romelle Donovan to Brentford B on the final day of the January transfer window
Romelle Donovan has made a rip-roaring start to life in Bentford’s B team.
Birmingham City allowed the talented teenager to link up with Brentford’s second string on loan at the end of the winter transfer window after his loan at League One rivals Burton Albion turned sour.
Donovan appeared for Blues’ under-21s in December and January but Chris Davies made it clear that there was no route into the first team fold for the England youth international.
It wasn’t until the final day of the transfer window that Donovan received clarity on his future. Brentford are long-standing admirers of Donovan and agreed a loan deal with Blues for the 18-year-old to join their B team for the remainder of the season.
Donovan has effectively been given the chance to prove his worth to Brentford before the summer transfer window and the Birmingham-born attacker is shining in west London.
Brentford’s B team doubles up to become their under-21 side, meaning Donovan’s game time has been split between exhibition matches, Premier League Cup ties and Professional Development League fixtures.
Donovan has scored four goals already, including one in a 4-3 victory over Bristol City’s under-21s on Monday, and produced some eye-catching performances.
Brentford B are top of PDL Group B and recently defeated Blues’ under-21 side 2-0. Donovan was ineligible against his parent club and watched on from the stands.
“This group has been performing at a very, very high level for a number of months now and he’s come in and added to that group,” says Brentford B team boss Neil McFarlane.
“We demand every day that they work really hard for the team, that’s the basis of everything, he’s doing that and he’s getting his rewards. He’s got really good quality.”
A permanent exit for Donovan in the summer would provide Blues with an all-profit cash boost. Donovan has a contract until 2026 and the whole transfer fee would count towards Blues’ profit as far as Profit and Sustainability (P&S) is concerned due to the fact the youngster is homegrown.