Jay Stansfield: Birmingham City’s Record-Breaking Arrival
Jay Stansfield was 16 when he left boyhood club Exeter City for Fulham’s academy, returning to Exeter on loan three years later. It had been 12 years since any player had worn the #9 for the Grecians, with the club retiring it after the previous holder — Jay’s father Adam — died of cancer in 2010. Stansfield kicked off the season in stellar fashion, winning the EFL Young Player of the Month for October 2022, and he ended it by scoring the first hat-trick of his career and leading them to a 3-2 home win against Morecambe in the final match of the League One campaign.
Stansfield returned to Craven Cottage but was unable to convince Marco Silva of his merits and was sent out on loan to Birmingham City. While he was unable to keep the Blues afloat in England’s second division, he nevertheless played a pivotal role in their efforts with 12 goals and 2 assists in 43 appearances. It was good enough to win the club’s Player of the Season award, with Stansfield heading back to Fulham and coming on for a couple of minutes at Manchester United before remaining on the bench in their 2-1 win vs. Leicester.
On August 27, Stansfield marked his 10th appearance for Fulham by doubling the visitors’ lead within 14 minutes of their 2-0 win at Birmingham City, knocking his former side out of the EFL Cup and grabbing the first goal of his Fulham career. As fate would have it, it would be his last as well: Birmingham City obliterated the League One transfer record and acquired him on deadline day for an initial £15 million — £11 million more than the previous league transfer record from Will Grigg’s move to Sunderland in 2019 — with Stansfield signing a seven-year deal.
Fulham have not only maintained a 20% sell-on clause, but they could also receive an additional £5 million in add-ons. Birmingham City will pay a bonus of £100,000 if they manage to go back up to the second tier. Chris Davies’ side currently sit first in the table after 29 points from 12 matches, three points clear of second-placed Wycombe, and they’ll be counting on Stansfield to produce the goods in attack.
So far, it’s been smooth sailing for Stansfield, who returned to League One in style by delivering a brace in a 3-1 win against Wrexham before doubling their lead in a 2-0 win at Rotherham, and setting up Alfie May’s winning goal in the 63rd minute against Huddersfield Town. After failing to find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss at Charlton, Stansfield doubled the scoring from the penalty spot in a 2-0 win vs. Bolton before being kept under wraps in their 1-1 draw at Mansfield.
His goal-scoring exploits and ability to adapt to the demands of League One convinced the club to break the league’s transfer record to secure his signature, and if Birmingham can make an immediate return to the Championship, then it may very well end up looking like a bargain buy.
The significant investment in Stansfield is a testament to Birmingham City’s belief in his potential and their ambition to compete for promotion. Additionally, the investment might seem a meager sum if the young attacker is sold for a considerably higher fee in the near future, with top tier sides showing increased faith in youth players down the English pyramid.
Player Profile
Technical Profile
Stansfield possesses a solid technical foundation. His ball control is excellent, allowing him to maintain possession under pressure. He is comfortable dribbling past defenders and has a knack for creating space for himself, and his shooting technique is clean and powerful, and he has a good eye for goal.
The Englishman’s touch and turn is reminiscent of strikers like Sergio Agüero and Jamie Vardy, whilst also sharing in their quick separation before shooting. His power-to-weight ratio is also favorable, allowing him to accelerate quickly and maintain high speeds.
Stansfield’s dribbling is characterized by a combination of power and finesse. His excellent ball-control allows him to maintain possession under pressure, whilst his shooting technique is clean and powerful, with a focus on accuracy and placement.
Physical Attributes
Jay Stansfield’s physical profile is characterized by a strong athletic foundation. He is tall (6’2) and athletic, allowing him to win aerial duels and hold off defenders. His pace and acceleration are also assets, enabling him to get in behind defenses and create scoring opportunities.
Mental Attributes
Stansfield is a confident and determined player. He has shown a willingness to take on responsibility and make a difference in big games. His mental toughness has been evident in his ability to adapt in different environments, particularly making the jump from youth football to senior football. His decision-making is generally sound, although there is room for improvement in terms of his positional sense and final-third efficiency.
Playing Style
Jay Stansfield’s playing style is characterized by his ability to combine physicality with technical skill. He is a powerful forward who is comfortable holding up the ball and bringing others into play. His strength allows him to create space for himself and his teammates, while his dribbling ability enables him to progress the ball into dangerous areas.
Stansfield’s off-the-ball movement is intelligent, and he has a good understanding of space. He is able to find pockets of space between defenders and create scoring opportunities, and his ability to time his runs into the box is a valuable asset.
In possession, Stansfield is a confident player who is not afraid to take on defenders. His dribbling style is direct and purpose-driven, often aimed at progressing the ball quickly into the final third, and he has a good range of passing and is capable of playing simple passes to maintain possession and create triangles.
Defensively, Stansfield is a willing worker. He tracks back to help out his team and is not afraid to get stuck in to win tackles, and his physical presence can be a deterrent to opposition defenders. His decision-making is generally sound, although there is room for improvement in terms of his positional sense and final-third efficiency.
Statistical Analysis
Stansfield’s statistical profile from last season reveals a promising young forward with a strong attacking output. His 0.32 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes place him in the 64th percentile, indicating a solid goal-scoring threat. This is further supported by his 0.25 non-penalty expected goals (npxG) per 90, which places him in the 42nd percentile, suggesting that his goals are not flukes but rather a reflection of his attacking prowess.
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The 21-year-old’s ability to create chances for himself and his teammates is evident in his 2.32 shot-creating actions per 90, which places him in the 64th percentile, and his 1.03 successful take-ons per 90 show his dribbling ability and his willingness to take on defenders. While his passing completion percentage might seem low at 60.8%, it’s important to note that this is likely due to his more attacking style of play.
His 1.46 progressive passes per 90 and 2.48 progressive carries per 90 demonstrate his ability to drive the ball forward and create attacking opportunities. Stansfield’s defensive contributions are limited, as expected for a forward, but his 1.11 tackles per 90 show his willingness to track back and help out defensively.
Potential
Jay Stansfield has the potential to develop into a top-level striker. His combination of technical ability, physical attributes, and mental toughness make him a promising prospect. With continued development, he could become a key player for both club and country. His playing style and physical attributes suggest that he possesses a strong athletic profile and the technical ability to succeed at the highest level.
By: @free__flowing
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Jacques Feeney / Offside