Krystian Bielik (pronounced [ˈkrɨstjan ˈbjɛlik]; born 4 January 1998) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a centre back or defensive midfielder for EFL League One club Birmingham City.

[16] Playing on the right of a back three alongside Shotton and Robinson in mid-March against Newcastle United, Bielik contributed to a clean sheet,[17] a performance that confirmed his place in the starting eleven for the next few weeks and encouraged manager Gianfranco Zola to consider trying to loan him again in 2017–18.

[18] Zola's dismissal coincided with the return to fitness of Michael Morrison and Birmingham's need for points, and incoming manager Harry Redknapp reverted to a back four and prioritised playing to the team's strengths for the last three matches of the season.

[19] He used Bielik only in the final match, away to Bristol City, as a substitute playing in front of the defence to help the team hold on to their one-goal lead and thus avoid relegation to League One.

[25] He scored in the League One play-off semifinals against Doncaster Rovers,[26] and was awarded Man of the Match in the final against Sunderland, a 2–1 victory at Wembley Stadium by which Charlton Athletic secured promotion to the Championship.

[37][38] Bielik made his long-awaited return a year to the day since he suffered it, coming off of the bench and scoring a 96th-minute equaliser with an overhead kick as Derby got a much-needed 2–2 draw with Birmingham City.

[39] He made 15 appearances by the end of the season as Derby were relegated to League One, and regained his international place, but was told by Poland's manager Czesław Michniewicz that he would not be considered for the 2022 World Cup if he were a third-tier player.

[42] Bielik played 37 times during his loan spell, the best seasonal appearance record of his career, with one goal being scored in a 2–0 win over West Bromwich Albion in February 2023.

[52] After leaving Derby on loan at the start of the 2022–23 season to enhance his chances of playing international football, Bielik was named in Poland's squad for the 2022 World Cup.