George Friend agrees Birmingham contract extension

BIRMINGHAM: Birmingham have announced defender George Friend has agreed a contract extension with the club running to 2023.

The 33-year-old has added 12 more months to the two-year deal he signed when he joined last summer after leaving Middlesbrough. Friend made 28 appearances in all competitions last season.

He said in quotes on Birmingham’s official website: “I’m so pleased. I feel last season was strange and difficult for football and non-football reasons. I feel like it’s another start for us. Hopefully, we’ll have the fans back in and it’s a real chance for me and my family to immerse ourselves into the community.

“I really enjoy being here and living here and my family have settled really quickly. I’m really looking forward to building that relationship with fans as much as getting out there and actually playing football as well.”

Birmingham finished 18th in the Championship after Lee Bowyer replaced Aitor Karanka as boss in March. The club were beaten only three times in their final 10 games of the campaign, winning five of them, and Friend added: “There’s definitely a feel-good factor at the club at the moment, the way we finished the season strongly to survive, but the objective is to make sure we’re not just finishing the season in those circumstances.“We have to have longevity and consistency this season. It’s exciting to be part of it...”