Liverpool have confirmed that Lewis Koumas has returned from his loan at Birmingham City, prompting questions about why the move didn’t make the expected impact.
The official club statement is straightforward: the 20-year-old “appeared 25 times in all competitions, scoring once.” While he stayed available, the loan didn’t provide the rhythm, regular starts, or defined role needed for his development.
The core issue is simple: Koumas didn’t play enough. According to SofaScore, he made 23 league appearances but only seven starts, totaling 771 minutes—essentially brief cameo appearances rather than the 70–90 minutes per game that help young players grow.
Koumas has previously handled the Championship grind at Stoke, so this Birmingham spell felt more like a sideways step than progress. Even Koumas himself acknowledged the lack of minutes compared to last season and noted he had discussed the situation with Liverpool.
His 2025/26 league stats illustrate the problem: 23 appearances (7 starts), 771 minutes, 1 goal, three big chances missed, 0.5 shots per game, and 71% passing accuracy. The main takeaway is the lack of attacking threat; moments came, but not often enough or with the impact needed to force a starting role.
From Liverpool’s perspective, first-team opportunities remain limited, making another loan or fresh challenge necessary. Koumas has the talent—he’s a Wales international, has a senior Liverpool goal, and comes from a footballing family—but development requires consistent minutes, not just notable background or occasional appearances. His Birmingham loan kept him fit and involved, but without regular starts and meaningful contributions, it ultimately fell short of its purpose.
