Hannover 96 have released a statement after Birmingham City announced that German defender Phil Neumann had signed a pre-contract agreement with the club.

Neumann will join Blues on July 1 at the end of his Hannover contract in readiness for the 2025/26 season. The German defender played for Hannover last night in their 1-0 victory over Jahn Regensburg in Bundesliga II.

One hour after that game finished, Blues confirmed that Neumann will be joining the club in the summer. Hannover have since published a statement on their website questioning the timing of the announcement.

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The statement said: “Phil Neumann has signed a preliminary contract with English third division club Birmingham City and is leaving Hannover 96 after his contract expires in the summer.

“The 27-year-old defender has agreed a move to Birmingham City and will officially join the League One club on July 1, 2025. Neumann did not accept an offer to extend his contract and instead opted for a new challenge.

“Since his move from Holstein Kiel to 96 in the summer of 2022, the defensive man has appeared in 81 competitive games for the professionals in the two and a half years so far, in which he scored three goals and prepared two goals.

“Birmingham City have insisted on releasing the transfer on matchday against Regensburg.”