Brandon Khela
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Brandon Singh Khela
| image = Brandon Khela 2025.jpg
| caption =
| full_name = Brandon Singh Khela{{cite web |url=https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-media-assets.gc.eflservices.co.uk/f9455bd0-4dac-11ee-8864-711544c578ce.pdf |title=EFL – Squad List 2022/23: Birmingham City – Under 21 Contract players |publisher=English Football League |page=3 |access-date=7 September 2023}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|1|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Coventry, England
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Birmingham City
| clubnumber = 27
| youthyears1 = 2014–2023
| youthclubs1 = Birmingham City
| years1 = 2023–
| clubs1 = Birmingham City
| caps1 = 3
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2024
| clubs2 = → Ross County (loan)
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2025
| clubs3 = → Bradford City (loan)
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 0
| club-update = 13:55, 10 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalyears1 = 2022
| nationalteam1 = England U17
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Brandon Singh Khela (born 19 January 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|BirmingC}} club Birmingham City. In 2022, Khela became the first British South Asian to sign a professional contract with that club. He spent the second half of the 2023–24 season on loan at Scottish Premiership club Ross County and the second half of the following season with Bradford City, with whom he gained promotion from League Two. In international football, he has represented England at under-17 level.
Early life and youth career
Khela was born in Coventry, West Midlands. He grew up in a Sikh family in Birmingham and was introduced to football at a young age by his father, Dov Singh Khela. He attended Arden Academy in Solihull.{{Cite news |title=Brandon Khela becomes first British Sikh to sign for Birmingham City FC |website=Brit Asia TV |url=https://britasia.tv/brandon-khela-signs-for-bcfc/ |date=1 July 2022 |access-date=12 January 2024}}
He joined Birmingham City's academy as an eight-year-old, and took up a scholarship with the club in 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/blues-latest-intake-of-academy-scholars-sign |title=Blues' latest intake of Academy scholars sign |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=21 November 2021 |access-date=12 January 2024}} According to the under-18s lead coach Martyn Olorenshaw, Khela "is a creator and scorer of many goals for the team from behind the forwards and his technical ability continues to improve. Brandon also has a fantastic engine on him which makes his defensive work important to the team as well." In the 2021–22 season, Khela played in 14 league matches for Birmingham's U18s as well as 8 for Steve Spooner's development squad.{{cite web |title=Brandon Khela wants to be a role model for British South Asians in football |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/blues-brandon-khela-talks-about-his-heritage |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=27 May 2022 |access-date=12 January 2024}} He also trained with the first team, was included in the matchday squad by manager Lee Bowyer for the EFL Championship visit to Stoke City in February 2022, and received a call-up to the England U17 team.
Club career
=Birmingham City=
Khela signed his first professional deal with Birmingham City, to begin in July 2022. Olorenshaw highlighted his attitude and work ethic, which "he backs up ... with serious talent".{{Cite news |title=Birmingham City teen takes step closer to a 'momentous occasion' |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-contracts-khela-24374264 |website=Birmingham Live |first=Brian |last=Dick |date=1 July 2022 |access-date=12 January 2024}} Khela's signing was celebrated as a significant milestone in the club's history and a source of inspiration for young British South Asians who aspire to play at the highest level.{{Cite news |title=Birmingham City: Brandon Khela becomes first British South Asian to sign pro deal at club |work=Sky Sports News |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11694/12637566/birmingham-city-brandon-khela-becomes-first-british-south-asian-to-sign-pro-deal-at-club |first=Dev |last=Trehan |date=1 July 2022 |access-date=12 January 2024}}
Khela was included in the party for the first-team's pre-season training camp in Spain in July 2023,{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-player-ratings-vs-27327269 |title=Birmingham City player ratings vs Cartagena: Tyler Roberts scores and Miyoshi makes debut |first=Alex |last=Dicken |website=Birmingham Live |date=14 July 2023 |access-date=12 January 2024}} and on 8 August 2023, he made his senior debut, replacing Keshi Anderson in the 81st minute of a 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road.{{cite web |title=Report: Cheltenham Town 0–2 Blues |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/report-cheltenham-town-0-2-blues |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=8 August 2023 |access-date=12 January 2024}}{{Cite news |title=Birmingham City: Sikh-Punjabi teenager Brandon Khela makes historic appearance for Blues |website=Sky Sports News |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11694/12936424/birmingham-city-sikh-punjabi-teenager-brandon-khela-makes-historic-appearance-for-blues |first=Dev |last=Trehan |date=9 August 2023 |access-date=12 January 2024}} He made his first Championship appearance on 3 October as a late substitute in a 4–1 win at home to Huddersfield Town.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66920481 |title=Birmingham City 4–1 Huddersfield Town |website=BBC Sport |date=3 October 2023 |access-date=3 October 2023}} He was a regular in the matchday squad for the first three months of the season, and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in November 2023,{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/blues-brandon-khela-pens-new-deal |title=Blues' Brandon Khela pens new deal |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=1 December 2023 |access-date=12 January 2024}} but made no further appearances for the first team.
==Ross County (loan)==
Khela joined Scottish Premiership club Ross County on 12 January 2024 on loan for the rest of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/ross-county/6332096/ross-county-complete-loan-move-for-brandon-khela/ |title=Ross County complete loan move for Birmingham City teenager Brandon Khela |first=Andy |last=Skinner |newspaper=Press & Journal |location=Aberdeen |date=12 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024}} He made his debut on 27 January, starting and playing the first hour of the visit to Celtic, who scored in the first minute and held on to their lead,{{cite news |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/ross-county/6361649/brandon-khela-quickly-clicking-into-new-look-ross-county-side/ |title=Brandon Khela quickly clicking into new-look Ross County side |first=Andy |last=Skinner |newspaper=Press and Journal |location=Aberdeen |date=3 February 2024 |access-date=26 May 2024}} and kept his place for the next match, but was used off the bench for all but one of his remaining 13 appearances. On 14 April, he came on as a late substitute with Ross County leading Rangers 3–1; although he conceded an 89th-minute penalty for handball, his team held on to beat Rangers for the first time in their history.{{cite news |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/ross-county/6429528/ross-county-score-stunning-first-ever-victory-against-rangers/ |title=Ross County score stunning first-ever victory against Rangers |first=Paul |last=Vhalk |newspaper=The Press and Journal |location=Aberdeen |date=14 April 2024 |access-date=14 April 2024}}
Ross County finished 11th in the table, which meant they faced a play-off against Scottish Championship promotion candidates Raith Rovers to determine which would play in the Premiership next season.{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/24330586.ross-county-2-aberdeen-2-hosts-relegation-play-off-draw/ |title=Ross County 2 Aberdeen 2: Hosts in relegation play-off after draw |first=Martin |last=McMillan |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=19 May 2024 |access-date=27 May 2024}} With a 2–1 lead from the first leg, Ross County were 3–0 up in the second when Khela entered the match after 76 minutes. Ten minutes later, he scored his first senior goal to confirm a 4–0 win. According to the Daily Record{{'s}} commentary, "[Will] Nightingale is denied as his header at the back post hits the post, before rebounding for substitute Khela, who does brilliantly to work the ball out of the congestion and send a lovely left-foot drive into the corner."{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ross-county-vs-raith-rovers-32895192 |title=Ross County 4 Raith 0 LIVE reaction as Don Cowie's Staggies stay up in style |first1=Ross |last1=Pilcher |first2=Andy |last2=MacKay |website=Daily Record |date=26 May 2024 |access-date=26 May 2024}}{{cite tweet |user=BCFCAcademy |author=BCFC Academy |author-link=Birmingham City F.C. Reserves and Academy |number=1794746766987825198 |title=Congratulations to @BrandonKhela on scoring his first senior goal. |date=26 May 2024 |access-date=26 May 2024}}
==Return to Birmingham City==
Under new manager Chris Davies, Khela played regularly in pre-season, and his versatility earned him selection for the opening matchday squad at home to Reading in League One.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-reading-highlights-hansson-29717562 |title='Biggest challenge' for Chris Davies becomes clear as Emil Hansson makes Birmingham City point |first=Alex |last=Dicken |website=Birmingham Live |date=11 August 2024 |access-date=14 August 2024}} In the next fixture, away to Charlton Athletic in the EFL Cup, he made his first start for Birmingham, playing at left back in the absence of Lee Buchanan (injured) and Alex Cochrane (rested).{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/willum-willumsson-latest-birmingham-city-29721778 |title=Willum Willumsson latest as Birmingham City injury list grows before Charlton |first=Alex |last=Dicken |website=Birmingham Live |date=12 August 2024 |access-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-predicted-lineup-charlton-29725949 |title=Chris Davies can make nine changes for Charlton to give Birmingham City fringe stars a chance |first=Alex |last=Dicken |website=Birmingham Live |date=13 August 2024 |access-date=14 August 2024}} After 32 minutes, he scored what proved to be the only goal of the match, bending the ball round the goalkeeper from well outside the penalty area. His arms-outstretched celebration mirrored that of his former youth team-mate Jude Bellingham, who also scored the only goal of the match away at Charlton on his full debut.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/charlton-vs-birmingham-city-live-29723847 |title=Charlton 0–1 Birmingham City: Brandon Khela scores a stunner but Sanderson sees red |first=Alex |last=Dicken |website=Birmingham Live |date=13 August 2024 |access-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brandon-khela-reveals-jude-bellingham-29734863 |title=Brandon Khela reveals Jude Bellingham detail and Birmingham City wish after wondergoal |first=Alex |last=Dicken |website=Birmingham Live |date=14 August 2024 |access-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite tweet |number=1823443553105650012 |author=Birmingham City FC |author-link=Birmingham City F.C. |user=BCFC |title=Hold on, haven't we seen that celebration at The Valley before? 👐 |date=13 August 2024 |access-date=14 August 2024}} Davies confirmed Khela's integration within the first team squad for the season: "I just thought his mindset and the conversation I had with him really showed me, for such a young guy, there's a real maturity there and a real desire to be here and play for this club. He can cope physically as well and he's obviously been up to Ross County to play men's football, and he's decent on the ball and the attitude is exceptional so I have been really impressed."{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chris-davies-birmingham-city-loans-29792447 |title=Chris Davies expects imminent loan transfers with one Birmingham City player set to stay |first=Alex |last=Dicken |website=Birmingham Live |date=22 August 2024 |access-date=23 August 2024}}
==Bradford City (loan)==
Khela made six appearances for Birmingham in the first half of the 2024–25 season before joining League Two club Bradford City on 3 January 2025 on loan for the remainder of the campaign.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city-transfer-news-bantams-sign-birmingham-city-midfielder-and-ex-england-u17-international-on-loan-4929560 |title=Bradford City transfer news: Bantams sign Birmingham City midfielder and ex-England U17 international on loan |first=Leon |last=Wobschall |newspaper=Yorkshire Post |date=3 January 2025 |access-date=3 January 2025}} It took time for him to work his way into the team,{{cite news |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/24967593.birminghams-brandon-khela-impresses-bradford-city-boss/ |title=Birmingham's Brandon Khela impresses Bradford City boss |first=Simon |last=Parker |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=27 February 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025}} but he then started ten matches in March and April, initially standing in for the hospitalised Alex Pattison alongside captain Richie Smallwood in central midfield and then partnering Pattison with Smallwood suspended.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/25022607.birminghams-brandon-khela-grateful-bradford-city-captain/ |title=Birmingham's Brandon Khela grateful to Bradford City captain |first=Simon |last=Parker |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=22 March 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/25100678.birminghams-brandon-khela-impressing-bradford-city/ |title=Birmingham's Brandon Khela is keen student at Bradford City |first=Simon |last=Parker |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=19 April 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025}} According to the Bradford Telegraph & Argus season summary, Khela "showed an old head on very young shoulders" as his team gained promotion to League One.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/25138578.bradford-city-season-review-promotion-finally-secured/ |title=Bradford City season review as promotion finally secured |first=Simon |last=Parker |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=5 May 2025 |access-date=10 May 2025}}
International career
In May 2022, he was called up to the England U17 squad to face Norway and the United States in friendly matches in Marbella.{{Cite web |title=Who is Brandon Khela? The first British South Asian who signed professional contract at Birmingham City |url=https://www.easterneye.biz/who-is-brandon-khela-the-first-british-south-asian-who-signed-professional-contract-at-birmingham-city/ |first=Ramod |last=Thomas |website=Eastern Eye |date=2 July 2022 |access-date=12 January 2024}} He played in both matches, coming on as a substitute in the 3–0 win against Norway on 4 June and starting in the 2–1 loss to the United States four days later.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/matchrsl/MatchRslTmU17pg3.html |title=Match results Under 17 2020–2030 |website=England Football Online |publisher=Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood |date=22 November 2023 |access-date=12 January 2024}}
Personal life
Khela's Sikh faith has played a significant role in his life and career. He has spoken about how his faith has helped him to stay focused and maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity.{{Cite web |title=Sikhism in football: The Sikh footballers making a name in the game |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/64268354 |website=BBC Football Focus |date=21 January 2023 |access-date=12 January 2024}} In April 2023, Khela and his younger brother Reiss, an academy player at Leicester City, spoke at a Vaisakhi event hosted by the Football Association at Wembley Stadium.{{Cite web |title=Wembley played host to an open iftar for Ramadan and Vaisakhi celebration this month |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2023/apr/21/open-iftar-ramadan-and-vaisakhi-festival-hosted-at-wembley-20232104 |publisher=The Football Association |date=21 April 2023 |access-date=12 January 2024}}
Khela's signing with Birmingham City was recognised as a historic moment in British football and a source of inspiration for young footballers of South Asian descent.{{Cite web |title=Brandon Khela becomes first British South Asian baller to sign a pro deal at Birmingham City |url=https://versus.uk.com/2022/07/brandon-khela-becomes-first-british-south-asian-baller-sign-pro-deal-birmingham-city/ |first=Jacob |last=Davey |website=Versus |date=1 July 2022 |access-date=12 January 2024}}{{Cite web |title='I'm proud of where I'm from but I want to be recognised for my talent.' – Brandon Khela on his historic signing for Birmingham City |url=https://www.penalty.online/features/i-m-proud-of-where-i-m-from-but-i-want-to-be-recognised-for-my-talent-brandon-khela-on-his-historic-signing-for-birmingham-city |first=Um-E-Aymen |last=Babar |website=Penalty Online |date=27 July 2022 |access-date=12 January 2024}} He has stated that he wants to be a role model for British South Asians in football.
Career statistics
{{updated|end of 2024–25 season}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup}} !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Birmingham City
|Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022–23{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/brandon-khela/761841/ |title=B. Khela |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=10 May 2025}}
|Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023–24
|Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024–25
|League One | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2{{efn|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| colspan="2"|Total
!3||0||1||0||2||1||2||0||8||1 | ||||||||||
| Ross County
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|157666|2023|access-date=26 May 2024}} |14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in Scottish Premiership play-offs}} | |1 | 15 | 1 | ||
| Bradford City
|2024–25{{soccerbase season|157666|2024|access-date=10 May 2025}} |15 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!32||0||1||0||2||1||3||1||38||2 |
{{notelist}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Birmingham City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khela, Brandon}}
Category:Footballers from Coventry
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Ross County F.C. players
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:British Asian footballers
Category:English people of Punjabi descent
Category:English people of Indian descent