Cardiff City

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We asked Cardiff City fans who they would like the club to sign as the Bluebirds prepare for life back in the Championship, with boss Brian Barry-Murphy saying they will be looking for quality rather than quantity in the transfer market.

Here are some of the responses:

Adrian: It's great the youngsters coming through. But in the Championship they need some players with experience. Short at left and right-back and need a couple of strikers. Let Callum Robinson go as he could hardly get a game in League One. Also let Callum Chambers go, he is past his best.

Andrew: Sort who our number one goalkeeper is. Whether Nathan Trott or another. Central defence cover as well as central midfield. More help up front for Yousef Salech and Robinson.

Paul: City need to stick to all the youngsters we have, this season has been the most enjoyable for many years because of our style of play and the fact that we have an almost entirely UK squad. We know the player's backstories and it is great to see who progresses. Next season is not about whether we are fighting at the top or bottom, it is about a club with a heart and a connection with the fans.

Russell: In my opinion we need a winger to supply Salach, the ones we have - apart from Cian Ashford - are like vampires... don't like crosses. Also we need someone who can chip in with 10 or 15 goals. A creative midfielder would be good to push us forward rather than tippy-tappy around the opposition's box.

David: I agree with Iwan [Roberts]. The Championship is tough with many quality teams and whilst we have a great bunch of young talent, we will need more experienced players who are proven in this league. I am also sure our manager will rise to the challenge too and create a squad good enough for play-offs. Can't wait!

Andrew: Lorent Tolaj from Plymouth, Jaden Wareham from Exeter and Reading's Lewis Wing.

Image source, FAW

Defender Lisa Owen will end her 12-year stint with Cardiff City Women when her contact expires this summer.

The 28-year-old has helped the Bluebirds win three Adran Premier titles, the Adran Trophy, six Bute Energy Welsh Cups, as well as reaching the Women's Champions League three times.

Scoring on her return in December 2022 after giving birth was among Owen's Cardiff highlights.

The club thanked Owen for her "huge contribution to our success".

Owen told Cardiff City TV: "It's been amazing. I've loved every minute of it and it's been a huge journey. There was a time where you could look at the games in this league and you could predict who would win, you would know who would be in the top four every year. It wasn't as competitive as it is now; the Adran Premier is so different.

"Teams are always taking points off each other and every game is difficult. This year has been the most competitive it's ever been and it's great to see that."

She added: "There's been so many memories. Coming back after having a baby and scoring that goal on my return, that was so special. Scoring at Cardiff City Stadium was another big moment for me. The team have been there for me the whole time and they've seen me grow both as a player and as a person.

"From the bottom of my heart, I'm so grateful for our support. Those that come to our games, home and away, and all the players' families, the backing that they've given me and my team-mates has been second to none and I can't thank them enough."

Image source, BBC Sport

Brian Barry-Murphy says Cardiff City will be looking for quality rather than quantity in the transfer market as they prepare for a return to the Championship.

The Bluebirds are working on a deal to sign goalkeeper Nathan Trott on a permanent basis, but where do they need to strengthen having secured promotion from League One?

BBC Sport Wales pundit Iwan Roberts reckons Cardiff should take a leaf out of Wrexham's book by trying to sign players with Championship know-how this summer.

Do you think experienced players are required? Or can Cardiff's youngsters deliver in the second tier having thrived this season?

Which players would you like to see Cardiff recruit this summer?

Let us know your views by clicking here.

Image source, Getty Images

Owain Tudur Jones believes Cardiff City were too good for League One and has praised a campaign which sees the Bluebirds return to the Championship at the first attempt.

Cardiff were relegated from the second tier 12 months ago, finishing bottom of the table with just nine wins from 46 games.

With one match remaining this season, they have 27 wins and 10 draws, having secured promotion with three games to spare.

"It's ended up being fairly easy for Cardiff from the perspective that they've been too good for the division," former Wales international Jones told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast.

"The hard work had been done in the earlier months. They would have loved to have won the league, but it doesn't matter, the important thing was promotion."

Cardiff led the table for much of the season but will finish second behind a Lincoln City side who hit the 100-point marker with a 4-3 win over Wycombe on the penultimate weekend - the Imps having clinched the title four days earlier.

"When the first kick comes in the Championship next season, no one will be worrying if they won the league or not," added Jones.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side round off their one season in League One at Mansfield Town on Saturday (15:00 BST) having signed off their home campaign with a 5-1 demolition of bottom side Northampton Town at Cardiff City Stadium.

"They've won promotion with a young and exciting team," Jones continued.

"They'll need to add a few players over the summer to be stronger to compete, but it's a highly successful season for Cardiff."

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy is targeting quality over quantity in the transfer market after Cardiff City's swift return to the Championship.

The Bluebirds celebrated finishing as League One runners-up to Lincoln City after Saturday's 5-1 win against Northampton in their final home fixture.

Cardiff finish the campaign at Mansfield on Saturday, 2 May (15:00 BST) before thoughts turn to their return to the second tier, but Barry-Murphy does not intend to make drastic changes for the step up.

"I don't believe in signing loads of players, I believe in signing high quality players," said the head coach.

"Our supporters want to see a team that they fall in love with, so that's the way we still see it."

Barry-Murphy said he intends to continue with the steady growth of his Bluebirds squad.

"What we've tried to do with the club is be really progressive and plan mainly to improve the squad throughout the course of the season in each window," he said.

"You've seen that happen with the players we've brought in. We haven't brought in a lot of players, but each player we brought in we felt improves the squad significantly."

Image source, Huw Evans agency

Midfielder Ryan Wintle has been rewarded for being a driving force in Cardiff City's promotion from League One to the Championship by taking the two main accolades at the club's end-of-campaign awards night.

The 28-year-old was voted player of the season by Bluebirds fans and also the players' player of 2025-26.

Rising star and Wales international Dylan Lawlor was voted young player of the year.

Defender Nieve Jenkins is Cardiff women's player of the season with Lily Billingham earning the title of women's players' player of the year.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts believes Cardiff City should follow Wrexham's lead as they prepare to return to the Championship.

Cardiff are heading immediately back to the second tier after clinching second place in League One in their first season at the lower level since 2003.

A string of youngsters – many of them academy products – have played a starring role in Cardiff's promotion success.

But Roberts believesCardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy should take a leaf out of Wrexham opposite number Phil Parkinson's book by looking to recruit proven Championship performers this summer.

Having been promoted from League One last season, Parkinson brought in the likes of Dom Hyam, Callum Doyle, Lewis O'Brien Ben Sheaf, Josh Windass and Kieffer Moore last summer.

"I don't think Cardiff need to go overboard, maybe [bring in] three, four players who have played in the Championship," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"Do what Wrexham did – don't go for youngsters from Premier League clubs who are wet behind the ears and haven't got too much experience of first-team football.

"If you can, try to get tried and tested players, as Phil did last summer."

Roberts believes a striker and a left-back should be among Cardiff's top targets, while he argues the Welsh club should do all they can to keep goalkeeper Nathan Trott, who is on loan from Danish club FC Copenhagen.

"Nathan Trott would be a massive loss," he added.

"He is so good with the ball at his feet and he is a good goalkeeper full stop. If he goes, there's a massive hole to fill."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Brian Barry-Murphy says he will stick to his senior squad for Cardiff City's final games in League One.

Cardiff have already secured promotion back to the Championship and have been told to "enjoy" their remaining fixtures in the third tier.

But ahead of Saturday's Cardiff City Stadium celebration against bottom side Northampton Town (15:00 BST), Bluebirds manager Barry-Murphy said he would not look to blood any further youngsters and instead select from the same players used during a campaign that brought a second-placed finish.

That success was based on use of academy graduates, with one of them, 24-year-old Isaak Davies, available again after being out since February with a hamstring problem.

However, fellow forward Cian Ashford will miss the last two games of the campaign after failing to recover from a back injury.

Midfielder Eli King, who has missed almost the entire campaign with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, is back in limited training but will not be under consideration. He is expected to be back fully fit in time for pre-season.

"We'll pick the team on Friday based on who is in the best condition and who gives us the best chance of winning," Barry-Murphy said after Wednesday's 1-0 win over Port Vale.

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Brian Barry-Murphy admits Cardiff City's promotion celebrations mark "a new experience" in his coaching career as the Bluebirds prepare to host Port Vale on Wednesday (19:45 BST).

Promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt has looked inevitable for large parts of the campaign, but it was sealed in dramatic fashion last Saturday as Exeter City goalkeeper Jack Bycroft scored a 96th-minute equaliser against Stockport County to seal Cardiff's return.

The Bluebirds were already five points clear of third-placed Bradford City on New Year's Day, and that advantage has only continued to grow - now standing at 11 points to third-placed Bolton Wanderers.

While Lincoln City won the League One title with a 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday, Barry-Murphy's men have also stamped their authority on the division, losing just eight matches all season.

Despite Wednesday's game offering little tangible to play for in league terms, Barry-Murphy has insisted his side are determined to continue their winning momentum as fans expect.

That stands in contrast to Port Vale, who arrive at Cardiff City Stadium knowing that anything other than a victory would confirm their relegation to League Two.

"It's a new experience for me," the Irishman said on BBC 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"Normally I've always had something on the line or been fighting at the other end of the table.

"I quickly realised that our club is a huge club, and we expect the attendances on Wednesday and Saturday to be enormous.

"So, I always think for the supporters, if we can keep winning and try and put on really good performances, that's the best way - so we're trying to do our best to win all the games."

Cardiff head into the contest in strong form seeking to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.

Five more points from the remaining fixtures would see the Bluebirds equal their highest-ever points tally of 90, achieved under Neil Warnock during the 2017-18 Championship season.

In that campaign they finished runners-up to Wolverhampton Wanderers - a side they will face again next season as Wolves' relegation to the Championship was confirmed after West Ham United's draw at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Port Vale, meanwhile, offer a note of caution for the hosts. Jon Brady's side are unbeaten in their last four matches and have shown resilience during a critical stage of the season.

However, their struggles away from home remain evident, with the Valiants managing just five away wins all campaign.

But Port Vale have already proved they can be tough customers for their high-flying hosts, as they look to upset the promotion celebrations having frustrated the south Wales side in a goalless draw on the opening day of the season.

Barry-Murphy's side will be keen to show how far they have progressed since that afternoon and toast promotion in front of their home supporters in fine style.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Former Cardiff City defender Danny Gabbidon hopes head coach Brian Barry-Murphy will be given the necessary funds to strengthen his squad ahead of the Bluebirds return to the Championship.

Cardiff secured promotion to the Championship 12 months after they were relegated with a 3-1 win away to Reading.

"I think the manager probably deserves that right in the summer to get a bit of money to strengthen the squad so they're competitive next season," Gabbidon said

"It's going to be a big summer for the club and they've got to continue to get that decision-making right.

"The Championship is a different kettle of fish.

"I think, particularly for the young players, having opportunities to play at League One level has been brilliant for their development.

"But that step up is quite big into the Championship and, for sure, there will probably have to be tweaks to the squad.

"Maybe a little bit more experience coming in.

"You hope that the young players, with a year of experience at this level, can kind of kick on at Championship level and develop further, which I'm sure a lot of them will."

Gabbidon, who had two spells with Cardiff and served briefly as interim manager in 2014, was full of praise for Barry-Murphy.

Barry-Murphy, 47, who previously managed Rochdale as well as a coach at Manchester City's academy and Leicester City first team coach, was appointed last summer following Cardiff's relegation from the Championship.

"He's been brilliant," Gabbidon told BBC Sport Wales.

"I think you look at the difficulties that Cardiff had in the summer, obviously getting relegated and looking to try and find a new manager.

"That hasn't always gone well for the club over the last few seasons, but I think they've been spot on with the appointment.

"He's just taken to the job like a duck to water, really.

"I think you look at the way the team has performed this season, that's probably what has impressed me the most.

"The amount of young players that have been given opportunities, a lot of young players playing at this level for the first time.

"I think the managers have got that balance right of youth and experience in the team.

"They've been really enjoyable to watch, they really have. That's probably been the thing that's impressed me most this season.

"It's a little bit disappointing to be leading the league for maybe so long - obviously Lincoln, you have to give credit to them.

"They've been on a fantastic run and I think that will maybe disappoint the players a little bit.

"But the main aim at the start of the season was to bounce back straight away and get back into the Championship, first time of asking."