The 2025–26 season was the 142nd season in the history of Coventry City Football Club and their sixth consecutive season in the Championship. In addition to the domestic league, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
On 17 April 2026, Coventry officially confirmed their promotion back to the Premier League with three matches to spare following a 1–1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, marking their return to the top flight for the first time since 2001.
Pre-season and friendlies On 3 June, Coventry City announced their first pre-season friendly, away against Bristol Rovers. Their second pre-season friendly was announced later that day, a home tie against La Liga side Real Betis. On 4 July it was announced that Coventry City will face German Bundesliga team FC St. Pauli in their final pre-season game, a home friendly. On 10 July Coventry City announced they would face AS Monaco of the Ligue 1 in a behind closed doors friendly on 16 July at St George's Park Coventry kicked off their pre-season with a behind closed doors game against Liga Portugal 2 side Portimonense to wrap up their training trip to Portugal.
Competitions Overall record
Championship
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches The league fixtures were released on 26 June 2025.
FA Cup
Coventry were drawn away to Stoke City in the third round.
EFL Cup
Coventry were drawn at home against Luton Town in the first round and away to Millwall in the second round.
Transfers and contracts Transfers in Date Pos. Nat. Player From Fee Ref. 1 July 2025 LB Miguel Ángel Brau Granada Free 1 July 2025 RB Kaine Kesler-Hayden Aston Villa £3,500,000 4 July 2025 GK Oscar Varney Fulham Free 1 September 2025 CB Luke Woolfenden Ipswich Town £4,000,000 23 January 2026 CB Shay Dunn Merstham Free 27 January 2026 RW Jahnoah Markelo Zürich Undisclosed Expenditure: £7,500,000
Transfers out Date Pos. Nat. Player To Fee Ref. 29 July 2025 CB Luis Binks Brøndby IF £2,600,000 1 September 2025 CDM Ben Sheaf Wrexham £6,500,000 19 January 2026 CF Justin Obikwu Queens Park Rangers £500,000 Income: £9,600,000
Loans in Date Pos. Nat. Player From Until Ref. 24 July 2025 GK Carl Rushworth Brighton & Hove Albion 31 May 2026 6 January 2026 RW Yang Min-hyeok Tottenham Hotspur 7 January 2026 RW Romain Esse Crystal Palace 2 February 2026 CM Frank Onyeka Brentford 31 May 2026
Loans out + Date Pos. Nat. Player To Until Ref. 10 July 2025 CM Isaac Moore Forest Green Rovers 27 January 2026 15 July 2025 LB Harvey Broad Dagenham & Redbridge 31 May 2026 4 August 2025 FW Aidan Dausch Forest Green Rovers 9 January 2026 29 August 2025 MF Kai Yearn Maidenhead United 5 January 2026 29 August 2025 GK Bradley Collins Burton Albion 31 May 2026 1 September 2025 FW Norman Bassette Reims 6 January 2026 1 September 2025 FW Justin Obikwu Lincoln City 17 January 2026 1 September 2025 RW Raphael Borges Rodrigues Wigan Athletic 31 May 2026 21 October 2025 FW Elliot Betjemann St Albans City 2 January 2026 23 October 2025 RB Greg Sandiford Bedford Town 31 May 2026 6 January 2026 FW Norman Bassette 1. FC Kaiserslautern 31 May 2026 15 January 2026 CB Callum Perry Rochdale 31 May 2026 16 January 2026 CB David Mantle Maidenhead United 31 May 2026 21 January 2026 CAM Kai Yearn Chesham United 20 March 2026 24 January 2026 LW Rylie Siddall Gloucester City 31 May 2026 29 January 2026 CM Kai Andrews Hibernian 31 May 2026 7 February 2026 FW Aidan Dausch Scunthorpe United 17 February 2026 CM Isaac Moore Solihull Moors 31 May 2026 6 March 2026 CM MacKenzie Stretton Gloucester City 31 May 2026
Released / out of contract DatePos.Nat.PlayerSubsequent clubJoin dateRef. 30 June 2025 RB Jack Burroughs Northampton Town 1 July 2025 AM Jamie Paterson Plymouth Argyle CF Fábio Tavares Burton Albion CM Ryan Howley Bristol Rovers 8 July 2025 GK Luis Lines Norwich City 11 July 2025 FW Aston Ellard Barnsley 15 July 2025 GK Dan Rachel Nuneaton Town 23 August 2025 DF Jayden Smith Fort Wayne 4 February 2026 DF Kain Ryan Unattached Released GK Cian Tyler Retired Released
New contracts DatePos.Nat.PlayerContracted untilRef. 28 May 2025 CM Jamie Allen 30 June 2026 GK Luke Bell 30 June 2025 CB Tristen Batanwi CF Elliot Betjemann CB Riccardo Di Trolio CM Charlie Finney CM Isaac Moore 30 June 2028 RB Greg Sandiford 30 June 2026 LW Rylie Siddall AM Kai Yearn 4 July 2025 LW Conrad Ambursley CB Joshua Gordon CM Jack James CB David Mantle CM Joseph McCallum CM MacKenzie Stretton 19 February 2026 LB Jay Dasilva Undisclosed CB Liam Kitching RB Milan van Ewijk
Squad information
Squad details
No. Player Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (age) * Club apps * Club goals * Signed from Date signed Fee Contract end Goalkeepers 1 Oliver Dovin GK London 30 0 Hammarby IF 19 July 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 13 Ben Wilson GK Stanley 120 1 Bradford City 1 July 2019 Free 30 June 2027 19 Carl Rushworth GK Halifax 0 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 24 July 2025 Loan 30 June 2027 48 Luke Bell GK 0 0 Academy 1 July 2022 30 June 2027 51 Oscar Varney GK 0 0 Fulham 4 July 2015 30 June 2027 Defenders 3 Jay Dasilva LB Luton 79 0 Bristol City 1 July 2023 Free 30 June 2027 4 Bobby Thomas CB Chester 94 7 Burnley 22 July 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 15 Liam Kitching CB Harrogate 65 2 Barnsley 1 September 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 20 Kaine Kesler-Hayden RB Birmingham 0 0 Aston Villa 1 July 2025 £3,500,000 30 June 2029 21 Jake Bidwell LB Southport 136 3 Swansea City 17 January 2022 Free 30 June 2027 22 Joel Latibeaudiere CB Doncaster 84 4 Swansea City 18 July 2023 Compensation 30 June 2027 26 Luke Woolfenden CB Ipswich 0 0 Ipswich Town 1 September 2025 £4,000,000 30 June 2028 27 Milan van Ewijk RB Amsterdam 100 4 Heerenveen 27 July 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 33 Miguel Ángel Brau LB Cartagena 0 0 Granada 1 July 2025 Free 30 June 2029 50 Riccardo Di Trolio CB Camden 0 0 St Albans City 26 January 2023 Free 30 June 2026 53 Greg Sandiford RB Luton 0 0 Cambridge United 3 July 2024 Free 30 June 2026 Midfielders 5 Jack Rudoni CM Carshalton 50 10 Huddersfield Town 20 June 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 6 Matt Grimes CM Exeter 18 2 Swansea City 31 January 2025 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 7 Tatsuhiro Sakamoto RW Tokyo 80 11 KV Oostende 10 July 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 8 Jamie Allen CM Rochdale 175 11 Burton Albion 1 July 2019 Undisclosed 30 June 2026 10 Ephron Mason-Clark LW Lambeth 34 6 Peterborough United 1 February 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 14 Romain Esse RW Lambeth 0 0 Crystal Palace 7 January 2026 Loan 30 June 2026 16 Frank Onyeka DM Abuja 0 0 Brentford 2 February 2026 Loan 30 June 2026 18 Yang Min-hyeok RW Gwangju 0 0 Tottenham Hotspur 6 January 2026 Loan 30 June 2026 24 Jahnoah Markelo RB Amsterdam 0 0 Zürich 27 January 2026 Undisclosed 30 June 2030 28 Josh Eccles CM Coventry 162 5 Academy 1 July 2018 30 June 2028 29 Victor Torp CM Lemvig 61 7 Sarpsborg 11 January 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 50 George Shepherd AM Coventry 0 0 Academy 1 July 2025 30 June 2026 54 Kai Andrews LW Birmingham 2 0 Academy 1 July 2022 30 June 2026 Forwards 9 Ellis Simms CF Oldham 99 26 Everton 7 July 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 11 Haji Wright FW Los Angeles 81 31 Antalyaspor 4 August 2023 £7,700,000 30 June 2027 23 Brandon Thomas-Asante FW Milton Keynes 43 6 West Bromwich Albion 1 August 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 Out on loan 17 Raphael RW Maastricht 5 0 Macarthur 14 June 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 37 Norman Bassette FW Arlon 29 2 Caen 21 August 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 40 Bradley Collins GK Southampton 46 0 Barnsley 17 July 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2026 51 Harvey Broad LB 0 0 Chatham Town 11 July 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2026 59 Aidan Dausch FW London 2 0 Academy 1 July 2023 30 June 2026 Left before the end of the season 14 Ben Sheaf DM Dartford 176 9 Arsenal 1 July 2021 Undisclosed 30 June 2026 49 Justin Obikwu CF Brent 0 0 Academy 1 July 2022 30 June 2026
* Player age and appearances/goals for the club as of beginning of 2025–26 season.
Appearances
Number Nationality Player Position Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total3 Jay Dasilva DF 41+1 0+1 434 Bobby Thomas DF 33 2 355 Jack Rudoni MF 24+6 1 0+2 336 Matt Grimes MF 46 1+1 487 Tatsuhiro Sakamoto MF 29+6 0+1 0+1 378 Jamie Allen MF 4+19 2 259 Ellis Simms FW 15+28 0+1 2 4610 Ephron Mason-Clark MF 36+6 0+1 4311 Haji Wright FW 31+9 1 1+1 4313 Ben Wilson GK 1 2 314 Romain Esse MF 8+9 1 1815 Liam Kitching DF 37+1 1 0+2 4116 Frank Onyeka MF 13+1 1417 Raphael MF 0+2 2 418 Yang Min-hyeok MF 0+3 1 419 Carl Rushworth GK 46 4620 Kaine Kesler-Hayden DF 5+17 2 2421 Jake Bidwell DF 3+8 1 2 1422 Joel Latibeaudiere DF 15 1 1623 Brandon Thomas-Asante FW 21+11 1+1 3424 Jahnoah Markelo MF 0+5 526 Luke Woolfenden DF 11+6 1 1827 Milan van Ewijk DF 43+1 0+1 4528 Josh Eccles MF 19+15 1 3529 Victor Torp MF 25+14 1+1 4133 Miguel Ángel Brau DF 1+8 2 1154 Kai Andrews MF 0+7 1 2 10Player(s) who featured but departed the club permanently during the season:14 Ben Sheaf MF 0+1 1
Goalscorers
Number Nationality Player Position Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total 11 Haji Wright FW 17 0 1 18 9 Ellis Simms FW 13 0 1 14 23 Brandon Thomas-Asante FW 13 0 0 13 10 Ephron Mason-Clark MF 10 0 0 10 29 Victor Torp MF 10 0 0 10 5 Jack Rudoni MF 7 0 0 7 7 Tatsuhiro Sakamoto MF 7 0 0 7 28 Josh Eccles MF 4 0 0 4 4 Bobby Thomas DF 3 0 0 3 6 Matt Grimes MF 2 0 0 2 14 Romain Esse MF 2 0 0 2 15 Liam Kitching DF 2 0 0 2 20 Kaine Kesler-Hayden DF 2 0 0 2 8 Jamie Allen MF 1 0 0 1 16 Frank Onyeka MF 1 0 0 1Own goals 3 0 0 3Totals 97 0 2 99
Yellow cards
Number Nationality Player Position Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total 15 Liam Kitching DF 7 1 1 9 27 Milan van Ewijk DF 8 0 0 8 4 Bobby Thomas DF 7 0 0 7 3 Jay Dasilva DF 6 0 0 6 6 Matt Grimes MF 6 0 0 6 28 Josh Eccles MF 6 0 0 6 7 Tatsuhiro Sakamoto FW 4 0 0 4 11 Haji Wright FW 4 0 0 4 29 Victor Torp MF 4 0 0 4 16 Frank Onyeka MF 4 0 0 4 10 Ephron Mason-Clark MF 3 0 0 3 14 Romain Esse MF 2 0 0 2 19 Carl Rushworth DF 2 0 0 2 26 Luke Woolfenden DF 2 0 0 2 9 Ellis Simms FW 1 0 0 1 17 Raphael FW 0 0 1 1 20 Kaine Kesler-Hayden DF 1 0 0 1 21 Jake Bidwell DF 1 0 0 1 22 Joel Latibeaudiere DF 1 0 0 1Totals 68 1 2 72
Red cards
Number Nationality Player Position Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total 3 Jay Dasilva DF 1 0 0 1 4 Bobby Thomas DF 1 0 0 1 22 Joel Latibeaudiere DF 1 0 0 1Totals 3 0 0 3
Captains
Number Nationality Player Position Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total6 Matt Grimes MF 42 0 0 4215 Liam Kitching DF 4 1 0 521 Jake Bidwell DF 0 0 2 2Totals 46 1 2 49
Penalties awarded Number Nationality Player Position Date Opponents Ground Success11 Haji Wright FW 16 August 2025 Derby County Pride Park Stadium 11 Haji Wright FW 26 August 2025 Millwall The Den 11 Haji Wright FW 16 February 2026 Middlesbrough Coventry Building Society Arena 6 Matt Grimes MF 11 March 2026 Preston North End Coventry Building Society Arena 29 Victor Torp MF 14 March 2026 Southampton Coventry Building Society Arena 23 Brandon Thomas-Asante FW 21 March 2026 Swansea City Swansea.com Stadium
Hat-tricks Number Nationality Player Position Date Opponents Ground Result 11 Haji Wright FW 16 February 2026 Middlesbrough Coventry Building Society Arena 3–1 9 Ellis Simms FW 2 May 2026 Watford Vicarage Road 0–4
Suspensions served Number Nationality Player Position Date suspended Reason Matches missed27 Milan van Ewijk DF 31 October 2025 5 yellow cards Wrexham (A) 3 Jay Dasilva DF 20 December 2025 1 red cardvs. SouthamptonSwansea City (H)Ipswich Town (H)Charlton Athletic (A) 4 Bobby Thomas DF 17 January 2026 1 red cardvs. Birmingham CityStoke City (A)Leicester City (H)Millwall (H)23 Brandon Thomas-Asante FW 30 January 2026 Retrospectivevs. Norwich CityQueens Park Rangers (A)Oxford City (H)Middlesbrough (H)22 Joel Latibeaudiere DF 7 March 2026 1 red cardvs. Bristol City Preston North End (H)
Monthly & weekly awards