Birmingham City Sign Two Players on Deadline Day.

Birmingham City have bolstered their squad with two signings on Deadline Day within the winter transfer window.

Shannon Cooke, the first player of the day, has joined table-toppers Birmingham City on loan for the rest of the 2024/2025 season from Women’s Super League (WSL) club, West Ham United.

Cooke joined the Hammers in January 2023 following four-and-a-half years with Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers in the United States of America, having previously been at Barclays Women’s Super League side Arsenal. The 24-year-old has been in and around the squad this season, but she has found regular starts hard to come by.

The centre-back has made 37 appearances for the Club, scoring once, a last-minute equaliser away at Aston Villa in the 2023/24 campaign.

After joining Birmingham City on loan, Cooke said “After having a talk with Amy [Merricks] and the staff and players, I think the ambition is really exciting. I think it’s clear to see all of the work that’s going into the Club to help them progress and be successful and I’m really excited to be a part of that.”

Emily Van Egmond, the second player to join on deadline day, has joined on a two-and-a-half-year deal after departing San Diego Wave.

She amassed 70 appearances in all competitions scoring two goals across her three seasons. Internationally, the midfielder has picked up 153 caps for Australia scoring 31 goals so far.

Speaking to Blues TV, Van Egmond discussed her decision to join Blues.

“I’m happy to be here. I can’t wait to get started. When Birmingham came to me, I loved the ambition.

"They are top of the table right now, looking to get promoted, and I just thought what an opportunity to come to a great club and be part of something exciting."

Her career started at hometown club Newcastle Jets, before making the switch to Canberra United in 2009 through to 2011, making 16 appearances.

She made her first move to Europe in 2011 after impressing at the World Cup, joining Danish side Fortuna Hjorring. She then went back home to Australia, rejoining Newcastle for two years.

A spell in America followed with Western New York Flash and Seattle Reign before again moving back to her homeland to play for Western Sydney Wanderers.

The midfielder spent a year and a half with West Ham United in the Barclays Women’s Super League and then moved to Orlando Pride for a second time.

After that, she joined Newcastle for a fifth time, before moving to San Diego where she would enjoy 70 appearances and two trophies winning the NWSL Shield and Challenge Cup.