Birmingham City is one of several teams reportedly interested in Leonard this summer.
The Scottish player has returned to his parent club, Brighton, after two standout seasons with Northampton Town, where he played a key role in securing promotion from League Two and stabilizing their position in League One the next season.
Leonard’s successful loan spells have attracted significant interest, with Oxford United and Wrexham also showing interest alongside Birmingham City.
However, after months of speculation, it appears that Birmingham City have secured the signing. According to reporter Fabrizio Romano on X, the ambitious League One club has reached an agreement with Brighton for Leonard, with the transfer valued at around £500,000 plus add-ons, pending a medical examination.
This move will conclude Leonard’s six-year tenure at Brighton, where he joined from Hearts in 2018. Although he made only two first-team appearances, he had a successful academy career and enjoyed two productive seasons on loan at Northampton Town.
Birmingham City, active in the transfer market since their relegation to League One, are determined to make a strong push in the third tier and prepare for a Championship return. Signing the highly sought-after Leonard, who was also on the radar of Championship clubs, is a significant coup for the Blues and their new manager, Chris Davies.
Should Leonard come through the door, he’ll become signing number eight at St. Andrew’s.
Birmingham City have bolstered their squad with several notable additions. Goalkeepers Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Ryan Allsop have been brought in, along with defenders Alex Cochrane and Christoph Klarer.
In attacking positions, Willum Thor Willumsson and Emil Hansson have joined from the Eredivisie in two of the most striking deals, while Alfie May has arrived from League One rivals Charlton Athletic.
In midfield, manager Chris Davies has a range of options with Juninho Bacuna, Seung-ho Paik, Jordan James, George Hall, Alfie Chang, and the newly signed Willumsson already in place. Adding Leonard to this mix will enhance their midfield capabilities, presenting Davies with a selection dilemma.
Given the flurry of impressive signings at St. Andrew’s, it wouldn’t be surprising if there are more new arrivals in the coming weeks and months.