The 2025–26 season was the 127th season in the history of Cardiff City Football Club and their first season back in League One, the third tier of English football, since the 2002–03 season following relegation from the Championship in the previous season. In addition to the domestic league, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.
Prior to the season starting, Brian Barry-Murphy was appointed as Head Coach on a three-year contract.
Transfers In DatePos.PlayerFromFeeRef.3 July 2025 CM Matthew Apter Everton Free CB Gabriel Keita Norwich City CB Charlie O'Brien Queens Park Rangers 29 August 2025 CB Jack Kingdon Manchester United CB Gabriel Osho Auxerre Undisclosed 16 January 2026 GK Harry Tyrer Everton 21 January 2026 CB Caden Voice Wolverhampton Wanderers Free Transfer 2 February 2026 CAM Isaac Davies Nottingham Forest Undisclosed RW Herbie James Tottenham Hotspur
Out DatePos.PlayerToFeeRef. 4 July 2025 LW Callum O'Dowda Ferencváros Undisclosed 5 August 2025 CB Ryotaro Tsunoda Yokohama F. Marinos 8 January 2026 GK Jak Alnwick Huddersfield Town 22 January 2026 LW Isaac Jefferies The New Saints 29 January 2026 GK Ethan Horvath New York Red Bulls Free Transfer
Loaned in DatePos.PlayerFromDate untilRef. 6 August 2025 GK Nathan Trott Copenhagen 31 May 2026 1 September 2025 CAM Omari Kellyman Chelsea 1 February 2026 LB Calum Scanlon Liverpool
Loaned out DatePos.PlayerToDate untilRef. 27 June 2025 CF Michael Reindorf Newport County 3 February 2026 28 June 2025 CF Roko Šimić Karlsruher SC 31 May 2026 1 August 2025 CF Kion Etete Rotherham United 15 January 2026 22 August 2025 GK Ethan Horvath Sheffield Wednesday 2 January 2026 30 August 2025 CB Jesper Daland Fortuna Düsseldorf 31 May 2026 1 September 2025 CF Isaac Jefferies The New Saints 10 January 2026 CF Morgan Wigley Barry Town United 21 October 2025 RB Will Spiers Merthyr Town 31 December 2025 3 January 2026 LB Luey Giles Eastleigh 31 May 2026 RB Will Spiers 9 February 2026 9 January 2026 CDM Dakarai Mafico Yeovil Town 31 May 2026 12 January 2026 CM Troy Perrett 14 January 2026 CF Tanatswa Nyakuhwa Newport County 21 January 2026 CF Kion Etete St Mirren 3 February 2026 CF Michael Reindorf Tamworth 4 February 2026 GK Ewan Griffiths Cardiff Metropolitan University 9 February 2026 RB Will Spiers Merthyr Town 13 February 2026 GK Jake Dennis 17 March 2026 17 March 2026 LB Jac Thomas 31 May 2026
Released / out of contract DatePos.PlayerSubsequent clubJoin dateRef.30 June 2025 AM Kieron Evans Eastleigh 1 July 2025 CB Dimitrios Goutas Gençlerbirliği 3 July 2025 CM Aaron Ramsey UNAM GK Joe Thomas Barry Town 4 July 2025 CB Freddie Cook A.F.C.Telford United 8 August 2025 RW Cole Fleming Chippenham Town CM Raheem Conte Morecambe 20 August 2025 CF Yakou Méïté Damac27 August 2025 RW Anwar El Ghazi Al-Sailiya SC 10 September 2025 LB Jamilu Collins Erzgebirge Aue 26 September 2025 CM Joe Ralls Plymouth Argyle 5 November 2025 CM Andy Rinomhota Reading 12 November 2025 CM Adeteye Gbadehan St. Louis City 2 13 March 2026 LW Baylin Johnson
New contract DatePos.PlayerContract untilRef.2 July 2025 CAM Jake Davies Undisclosed CB Alyas Debono CF Daniel Ola LB Jac Thomas 3 July 2025 CF Isaac Jefferies Undisclosed 31 July 2025 LW Mannie Barton Undisclosed 5 August 2025 RW Ollie Tanner 30 June 2029 27 August 2025 CB Dylan Lawlor 30 June 2028 22 September 2025 CF Isaak Davies 30 June 2029 RB Ronan Kpakio 30 October 2025 CDM Eli King 30 June 2027 7 November 2025 GK Matthew Turner 30 June 2028 10 December 2025 GK Luke Armstrong 20 January 2026 CF Yousef Salech 30 June 2030 2 March 2026 RW Cian Ashford 16 March 2026 CAM Rubin Colwill
Current squad
No. Name Nat. Position(s) Date of birth (age) Apps. Goals Year signed Signed from Transfer fee Ends Goalkeepers13Nathan TrottGK4602025 CopenhagenLoan202630Harry TyrerGK202026 EvertonUndisclosed202941Matthew TurnerGK902021 Leeds UnitedFree2028 Defenders2Will FishCB6922024 Manchester UnitedUndisclosed20283Joel BaganLB13042020AcademyTrainee20264Gabriel OshoCB/RB2202025 AuxerreUndisclosed202912Calum ChambersCB/RB/DM7352024 Aston VillaFree202723Calum ScanlonLB802026 LiverpoolLoan202638Perry NgRB/LB/CB223152021 Crewe Alexandra£350,000202644Ronan KpakioRB4422024AcademyTrainee202948Dylan LawlorCB3922024AcademyTrainee2028 Midfielders6Ryan WintleDM/CM/CB16262021 Crewe AlexandraFree20268Omari KellymanAM/RW/CF42112025 ChelseaLoan202610Rubin ColwillAM/LW/RW189232020AcademyTrainee202714David TurnbullAM8442024 CelticUndisclosed202718Alex RobertsonCM/AMDM76102024 Manchester CityUndisclosed202824Eli KingDM/CM1002021AcademyTrainee202727Joel ColwillCM5062022AcademyTrainee2028 Forwards11Ollie TannerRW/LW10072022 Lewes£50,000202916Chris WillockLW/RW/AM82102024 Queens Park RangersFree202722Yousef SalechCF63242025 IK SiriusUndisclosed203039Isaak DaviesCF/SS/RW88122020AcademyTrainee202945Cian AshfordAM/RW/LW8492022AcademyTrainee203047Callum RobinsonCF/LW/RW129332022 West Bromwich Albion£1,500,0002027 Out on Loan5Jesper DalandCB2302024 Cercle BruggeUndisclosed202828Dakarai MaficoCM402025AcademyTrainee29Tanatswa NyakuhwaLW902024AcademyTraineeKion EteteCF/SS629 2022 Tottenham Hotspur£500,0002027Roko ŠimićCF002024 FC Red Bull SalzburgUndisclosed2028Michael ReindorfCF 402024 Norwich CityFreeUndisclosed
Pre-season and friendlies On 6 June, Cardiff City announced as part of their pre-season preparations the squad would travel to Murcia for a warm-weather training camp. Six days later, two friendlies were confirmed, against Yeovil Town and Cambridge United. A further two friendlies against Queens Park Rangers and Notts County were later added. On 30 June, friendlies against Johor Darul Ta'zim and Southend United were added to the Spain training camp.
Competitions Overall record
League One
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches
FA Cup
Cardiff were drawn away to Peterborough United in the first round.
EFL Cup
Cardiff were drawn at home to Swindon Town in the first round, Cheltenham Town in the second round, then away to Burnley in the third round, Wrexham in the fourth round and then back at home to Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
EFL Trophy
Cardiff were drawn against Exeter City, Newport County and Arsenal U21 in the group stage. By winning the group, City were drawn at home to AFC Wimbledon in the round of 32.
Statistics Appearances and goals Players with no appearances are not included on the list; italics indicate a loaned in player
Goals record Rank No. Nat. Pos. Name League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total 1 22 FW Yousef Salech 1401015 2 8 MF Omari Kellyman 1100011 3 47 FW Callum Robinson 801110 4 10 MF Rubin Colwill 80109 5 16 MF Chris Willock 80008 6 27 MF Joel Colwill 502077 18 MF Alex Robertson 60006 38 DF Perry Ng 60006 39 FW Isaak Davies 5010610 45 MF Cian Ashford 4010511 11 FW Ollie Tanner 30003 12 DF Calum Chambers 20103 14 MF David Turnbull 2010314 2 DF Will Fish 10102 44 DF Ronan Kpakio 20002 48 DF Dylan Lawlor 2000217 3 DF Joel Bagan 10001 6 MF Ryan Wintle 10001 49 DF Luey Giles 00011 52 MF Troy Perrett 00011 56 MF Will Spiers 00011 62 MF Trey George 00011Own goals 10001Total 900105105
Assists record Rank No. Nat. Pos. Name League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total 1 11 MF Ollie Tanner 1200012 2 10 MF Rubin Colwill 60208 3 6 MF Ryan Wintle 70007 16 FW Chris Willock 70007 5 3 DF Joel Bagan 50106 44 DF Ronan Kpakio 60006 7 38 DF Perry Ng 40105 8 14 MF David Turnbull 40004 22 FW Yousef Salech 40004 45 FW Cian Ashford 3001411 18 MF Alex Robertson 30003 39 FW Isaak Davies 20103 47 FW Callum Robinson 3000314 8 MF Omari Kellyman 20002 27 MF Joel Colwill 20002 48 DF Dylan Lawlor 2000217 12 DF Calum Chambers 00101 28 MF Dakarai Mafico 00101 61 MF Cody Twose 00011 64 FW Daniel Ola 00011Total 7207382
Disciplinary record Rank No. Nat. Pos. Name League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total 1 6 MF Ryan Wintle 501000100100701 2 3 DF Joel Bagan 800000100000900 18 MF Alex Robertson 800000100000900 4 44 DF Ronan Kpakio 500000200100800 5 27 MF Joel Colwill 700000000000700 6 4 DF Gabriel Osho 301000000000301 14 MF David Turnbull 400000000200600 48 DF Dylan Lawlor 600000000000600 9 12 DF Calum Chambers 400000100000500 38 DF Perry Ng 400000100000500 11 2 DF Will Fish 400000000000400 8 MF Omari Kellyman 400000000000400 13 10 MF Rubin Colwill 300000000000300 11 MF Ollie Tanner 300000000000300 16 FW Chris Willock 300000000000300 22 CF Yousef Salech 30000000000030017 13 GK Nathan Trott 200000000000200 39 FW Isaak Davies 100000000100200 45 FW Cian Ashford 000000000010010 47 FW Callum Robinson 10000010000020019 28 MF Dakarai Mafico 100000000000100 58 DF T-Jay Parfitt 000000000100100 60 DF Ajays Debono 000000000100100 61 MF Cody Twose 000000000100100 63 MF Jake Daniels 000000000100100Total 79020009008109612
Clean sheets Rank Name League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total113Nathan Trott 1601017241Matthew Turner 10113Total 1702120
References