Former Birmingham City defender Nico Gordon has completed a cross-States move to Monterey Bay this January - and in doing so he has prompted a Brummie alliance. Defender Gordon, 22, left Blues to join US third tier side North Texas SC in February of last year and enjoyed a successful 2024, captaining the club and helping them to win the regular season title, the Western Conference title and then the MLS Next Pro Cup.

Montserrat international Gordon, who was named in the MLS Next Pro Best XI at the end of the season for his performances across his 26 appearances, has stepped up to play for Monterey Bay ahead of the 2025 campaign, signing a one-year deal with the option of a further year.

In doing so, he has united with another Brummie in Jordan Stewart. He came through the ranks at Leicester City and made over 100 appearances for each of the Foxes and Watford. Stewart also had spells with Derby, Sheffield United, Millwall, Notts County and Coventry City, before heading out to the States and ending his career with the San Jose Earthquakes and Phoenix Rising.

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Stewart became head coach of Monterey Bay in the summer and works alongside his former teammate and ex-Aston Villa and Derby County winger Simon Dawkins, who became the club's first technical director in December. They together have secured the signature of Gordon ahead of the 2025 campaign.

“Nico is defensively solid, has composure on the ball, and leadership qualities,” said Stewart. “His standout performances highlighted his ability to handle pressure and contribute both defensively and in building play. Fans can expect him to bring a strong defensive presence, leadership, and versatility to the squad. Now we have two guys from Birmingham in the building.”

Gordon himself is excited by his new challenge and hopes to put his experiences of his time in the Blues first team - during which he made 16 appearances, mostly under Lee Bowyer, and scored once in a 2-1 win at Bristol City - to good use.

“I’m very excited about joining Monterey Bay,” said Gordon. “This is a good challenge for me being in a team with senior players that I can learn from and develop my skills. When the opportunity came to me, I could tell that head coach Jordan was very interested, and I want to be somewhere where I'm really wanted. I know I will play my best football around people who can push me and coach very well, and I got that impression from the conversations I had with the manager.

“I’m a composed player, but also very hungry. I'm really aggressive off the ball and I’m hard to beat in my duels. Coming off of a successful year last year, I want to make even more memories this season and I feel I can bring a winning mentality along with my experience. Having played in England with Birmingham City, I’ve gained a lot of experience with some top players at a young age."