“Difficult to accept” – New Birmingham City signing shares emotional goodbye

Following the completion of his move to Birmingham City, Carlos Vicente has taken time to reflect on his departure by sharing an emotional open letter to Deportivo Alavés supporters. The winger’s message highlighted just how deeply he felt the decision to leave.

The 26-year-old has agreed a long-term deal with Birmingham City worth €3m per year, running until 2030, bringing an end to negotiations that had developed over the past few days.

While much of the discussion in Spain initially centred on the €8m transfer fee, potentially rising by a further €2m in add-ons, attention quickly turned on Tuesday to Vicente’s heartfelt words to the Alavés fanbase, as reported by AS.

In his farewell message, Vicente expressed his gratitude for the connection he built with supporters, explaining how welcomed he felt from the moment he arrived.

He thanked them for making him feel part of the city, for allowing him to live out his passion on the pitch, and for the pride he took in wearing the shirt at Mendizorroza.

He also admitted that the warmth and affection he received made the choice to leave especially painful, adding that he felt honoured to have played a role in the club’s story and in the daily lives of its fans.

Vicente went on to say that, above all else, he feels happy and grateful for the experiences he shared at Alavés, both on a professional and personal level. He also paid tribute to those behind the scenes at the club, underlining how meaningful the journey had been for him.

The letter ended with a powerful declaration of loyalty, as Vicente stated that he will always consider himself a Vitoriano and an Alavés supporter, while expressing hope that their paths will meet again in the future.

With those words, Vicente officially brings his time in Vitoria to a close and now turns his focus to the next chapter of his career. For Birmingham City supporters, the message offers encouragement, showing how strongly Vicente was embraced at his previous club and how quickly he became a valued figure a promising sign of the impact he could make at St Andrew’s.