Lee Buchanan

Lee Buchanan's career took an abrupt turn in the summer of 2022, when the club that had raised him stopped being able to keep him. Derby County went into administration, and his contract was cancelled in July of that year. He left on a free transfer, though Derby later received training compensation from his next club.

He had joined the Derby academy in 2010, aged nine, and made his professional debut in August 2019. By the time he left he had played 75 times for the first team in all competitions.

His next move was abroad. Buchanan signed for Werder Bremen in July 2022 and played 24 matches for the Bundesliga side, 21 of them in the league. A year later he moved to Birmingham City. The fee was not officially disclosed, but German media, including the Weser Kurier, reported it at about €1.5 million.

At Birmingham, the 2024–25 season was cut short. He made four appearances, three in League One and one in the EFL Trophy, before a serious knee injury in November 2024 ended his campaign. He was stretchered off in the opening minutes of the 1–1 draw with Blackpool on 23 November. He had featured in the 2–0 League One win over Exeter City three days later, and in a 2–1 EFL Trophy win against the same opponents on 10 December.

Buchanan has represented England at Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels, but has not yet been capped by the senior side.