When Birmingham City brought Diego Fabbrini into the club from Watford on a permanent deal in January 2016 for around £1.5 million it was their highest transfer fee paid for a player in five years.

Much was anticipated of the Italian playmaker after he had spent time on loan with the Blues during the 2014/15 campaign. However, although he made a bit of an impact in the second half of the 2015/16 campaign making 14 Championship appearances at the back end of the season, he struggled to provide end product in the last third.

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During the 2016/17 season, Rowett decided to abandon his the 4-2-3-1 formation that gave the Italian a natural role in the number ten position. That led to him becoming more of a bit-part player for the Blues. He eventually went out on two loan spells to Spezia and Real Oviedo before finally leaving St Andrews in 2018 when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Fabbrini was always a player with plenty of potential and quality, but he never really managed to realise that for the Blues. His loss would have been met with sighs of what could have been rather than major disappointment.

Where is Fabbrini now?

The Italian’s first destination after his Blues exit was Romanian side FC Botoșani, who he joined almost immediately after his release from St Andrews. He went onto spend just one season there where he managed to register a decent tally of five goals in 31 appearances to put himself back into the shop window.

The following summer Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia took a punt on Fabbrini handing the playmaker a three-year deal ahead of the 2019/20 season. However, things did not work for the Italian and he made just five appearances before being allowed to leave the club after just three months.

Dinamo București made the decision to bring him back to Romania and that is where the attacking midfielder remains, and he has so far scored one goal in 25 appearances for the 13th different club he has played in his well-travelled career.