Arsenal and Birmingham City old boy Dan Crowley returns to former club

Former Birmingham City midfielder Dan Crowley has returned to the club from which Blues bought him in 2019.

Crowley, who left Cheltenham Town at the start of the January transfer window, has signed for Dutch outfit Willem II.

According to GloucestershireLive the talented midfielder has signed an 18-month contract with the Eredivisie club where he spent two years prior to his £750,000 move to St Andrew’s.

Despite making a promising start the former Aston Villa and Arsenal trainee had a troubled time at Blues, impressing in Pep Clotet’s first few months before slipping down the pecking order under Aitor Karanka.

He ended last season on loan at Hull City in League One before becoming a free agent and appearing for Cheltenham in pre-season last summer.

At that stage a deal could not be agreed and he subsequently spent time on trial at other League One sides including Doncaster Rovers and Gillingham.

After starting the campaign without a club, the 24-year-old then signed a short-term deal with the Robins in October, helping to cover for the injured Leicester City loanee Callum Wright.

Crowley made 16 appearances in all competitions for Cheltenham, making his debut in the Papa John’s Trophy against Exeter City and his final appearance in the Boxing Day defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

He played 45 times for Blues, scoring twice.