“You’ve taken me in as one of your own and made my family feel at home”Nahki Wells was crucial to Bristol City’s success in the 2024-25 season(Image: EFL)

Bristol City’s leading goalscorer Nahki Wells is to leave Ashton Gate at the end of the month after five-and-a-half years.

The Bermudan’s contract has run out and the striker has thanked players and fans for his time at Ashton Gate, where he scored 48 times in 237 appearances across all competitions.

The experienced international came in the January transfer window at the start of 2020 from QPR, where he was on loan from Burnley, and immediately settled in, scoring memorable goals including on his full debut in a 3-2 win against Derby, and a last minute winner on his first return to Loftus Road soon after signing.

He’s just turned 35 and City will go into the new Gerhard Struber era without their talisman forward, who enjoyed something of a renaissance in the second half of last season as first choice striker in City’s charge to the Championship play-offs for the first time in seven years.

“Over the past five-and-half years, I’ve built a massive connection with so many people at Bristol City, from the staff at the Robins High Performance Centre and the fans at Ashton Gate to the many amazing people in the local community,” he said.

“We’ve created so many special memories that will live with me forever. You’ve taken me in as one of your own and made my family feel at home from the moment I joined the club. The moment on the pitch at Ashton Gate finding out we’d made the play-off places is something I will never forget, celebrating something we worked so hard to achieve with the fans who backed us the whole way. I wish you all the best, up the City,” he added.

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City chairman Jon Lansdown praised Wells’ professionalism and attitude. “I’d like to thank Nahki for everything he has given to Bristol City in his time here,” he said.

“He has been an exceptional role model on and off the pitch, contributing significantly both to the first team and to the development of a number of our young players, and also helping the Robins Foundation to make a difference in our community. We wish Nahki all the best for the future,” he added.