Bristol City have published their retained list following the end of the 2024/25 season and also handed out 10 first professional contracts to young academy prospectsNahki Wells, Anis Mehemti and Zak Vyner were all key to Bristol City’s success this term(Image: Getty Images and EFL)

There may still be the Championship play-off final to come this weekend, but for Bristol City fans, attention has already now turned to the summer transfer window and preparations for next season with the play-off semi-final defeat to Sheffield United well and truly in the rearview mirror.

On the whole, it was a positive campaign for Liam Manning’s side. Few of a red and white persuasion expected the Robins to secure a top six finish this summer, and while the play-off experience was a bruising one on the pitch, as City suffered a record 6-0 aggregate defeat, it created memories that will stick with supporters for years to come.

Now, fans want to see their head coach backed in the summer transfer window so that Manning and his squad can go one step further next season and make the leap into the Premier League. Of course, that will be by no means easy, and Steve Lansdown has already confirmed that the Reds won’t go mad over the off-season, with the plan instead being to stand by the methods employed in recent years.

READ MORE: Former Bristol City midfielder provides update on future after ‘extremely tough’ injury absenceREAD MORE: Liam Manning recognises need for Max O’Leary competition within Bristol City transfer plans

Although the Robins didn’t make a single addition during the winter window, they made seven signings last summer with the likes of Fally Mayulu, Sinclair Armstrong, Scott Twine and Yu Hirakawa all making the move to BS3. Of course, not all of those players signed almost 12 months ago have been a success in red and white, but Manning and the recruitment team have begun to put their stamp on the playing group in BS3.

There was a common theme among the arrivals of last summer’s transfer window, with all of Luke McNally, Twine, Armstrong, Mayulu and Hirakawa – once his move from Machida Zelvia was made permanent – putting pen to paper on long-term deals until the summer of 2028. Marcus McGuane was the only permanent addition of that window to sign a shorter deal, penning a contract until 2026, with the option of a further year extension.

Following the end of their season, City have published their retained list. Senior players Stefan Bajic, Kal Naismith and Ayman Benarous have all been released, as have academy prospects Kai Churchley, Tim Ap Sion, Marley Rose, Romani Rowe and Callum Wood, who has already made the move to Weston-super-Mare.

Both Nahki Wells and Lewis Thomas remain in discussions with the Reds over a potential extension. While the Bermudian international told Bristol Live ahead of the second leg of the play-off semi-final that his future was “very uncertain,” both Wells and Manning have made it clear they would be keen to see the forward put pen to paper on a new contract.

Nahki Wells and Liam Manning celebrate Bristol City’s win over Sunderland(Image: Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Of course, resolving both players’ situations and adding to the squad this summer will likely be the Robins’ immediate priority, but they also have a host of players heading into the final 12 months of their contracts in BS3.

Mark Sykes, George Tanner, Max O’Leary, Zak Vyner, Cam Pring, Rob Atkinson, Haydon Roberts, Anis Mehmeti and Sam Bell all currently have deals which are due to expire at the end of the 2025/26 season, as do Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie. Like McGuane, however, the latter two do have options in their deals to extend their stay by another year.

The Reds are unlikely to be happy to be heading into the summer with at least eight first team regulars entering the final year of their contracts and therefore, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see one or two new deals handed out over the coming weeks. No-one within the walls at Ashton Gate will be keen to have a repeat of the Tommy Conway situation of last summer.

Supporters will be buoyed by the fact Max Bird, Jason Knight and Joe Williams all have another two years to run on their current agreements. All three midfielders are important assets to the football club and that arrangement means they should, in theory at least, be worth more if potential suitors come knocking.

With all of the above factors in mind, Bristol Live has rounded up the current state of play when it comes to each and every contracted player’s situation at Ashton Gate…

Bristol City contracts in fullIn talks

  • Nahki Wells
  • Lewis Thomas
  • Joe Duncan
  • Raphael Araoye
  • Olly Thomas

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2026

  • Mark Sykes
  • Sam Bell
  • George Tanner
  • Max O’Leary
  • Zak Vyner
  • Cam Pring
  • Rob Dickie (option of further season)
  • Rob Atkinson
  • Haydon Roberts
  • Ross McCrorie (option for further season)
  • Marcus McGuane (option for further season)
  • Anis Mehmeti
  • Harry Cornick
  • Ephraim Yeboah
  • Josh Campbell-Slowey
  • Josey Casa-Grande
  • Zack Ali
  • Taine Anderson
  • Calum Hewlett
  • Billy Phillips
  • Jed Meerholz
  • Joseph James
  • Archie Taylor
  • Thomas Chaplin
  • Ruebin Sheppard
  • Max Davies
  • Jack Hooper
  • Charlie Filer
  • Ben Clark

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2027

  • Max Bird
  • Jason Knight
  • Joe Williams
  • Josh Stokes
  • Elijah Morrison
  • Adam Murphy (option for further season)
  • Jamie Knight-Lebel
  • Seb Palmer-Houlden
  • Raekwan Nelson
  • Zac King-Phillips
  • Jack Griffin
  • Isaac Finch
  • Jack Witchard
  • Luke Skinner

2028

  • Luke McNally
  • Scott Twine
  • Fally Mayulu
  • Yu Hirakawa
  • Sinclair Armstrong

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