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Striker Connor Wickham and Northern Ireland winger Gavin Whyte are among the players leaving Cardiff City when their contracts expire on 30 June.

An £8m signing for Sunderland in 2011, 30-year-old Wickham joined Cardiff on a short-term deal in February and scored one goal in 12 appearances.

Whyte, 27, signed from Oxford United in 2019 but found game-time limited.

Goalkeeper Dillon Phillips and Tom Sang, who has played in midfield and defence, have also left Cardiff.

A club statement read: "We'd like to thank all of the departing players for their efforts while with our football club, and wish them all the very best for the future."

Cardiff also confirmed they have offered new contracts to Wales forward Mark Harris, left-back Joel Bagan and midfielder Eli King.

At under-21 level, the Championship club have activated options to extend the contracts of Cameron Antwi, Raheem Conte, Kieron Evans, Caleb Hughes, Ryan Kavanagh and Matt Turner.

Jac Clay, Taylor Jones, Jack Leahy, Aidan MacNamara and Owen Pritchard will depart at the end of the month.

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Cardiff City will be allowed to pay fees for players in the January 2024 window after the length of their EFL transfer embargo was reduced.

Cardiff were placed under an EFL embargo because they defaulted on payment of the transfer fee for the late Emiliano Sala.

The embargo had been due to run until summer 2024, but has now been cut by one window.

Cardiff said they were "extremely pleased" with the decision.

The Championship club had challenged the EFL over the embargo, having seen a Fifa embargo lifted after paying the first instalment of the Sala transfer fee to Nantes.

The case was reviewed by an independent disciplinary commission which found that although Cardiff had been late with a transfer payment and should therefore be sanctioned, there were exceptional circumstances which needed to be considered.

Sala died in a plane crash over the English Channel in January 2019 when travelling from France to join Cardiff.

The EFL had already partially lifted the embargo, which enabled Cardiff to sign free agents and loanees last January.

They will once again be limited to free transfers or loan signings this summer, but have been cleared to function normally in the transfer market come the mid-season window in 2023-24.

"The three-window fee restriction, previously in place, has been reduced to a two-window fee restriction," a Bluebirds statement said.

"Cardiff City Football Club has already served one window fee restriction in January 2023. It will therefore be eligible to pay fees once again for transfers during the January 2024 transfer window.

"The club's Summer 2023 player recruitment plan has already been prepared for some time with this potential ruling in mind.

"Cardiff City Football Club are extremely pleased with this decision, which recognises the exceptional set of circumstances the club finds itself in."

The three-window embargo was initially imposed by Fifa, world football's governing body, because of Cardiff's refusal to pay the first tranche of the £15m transfer fee they had agreed with Nantes for Sala.

Cardiff lost their appeal against that ruling by Fifa. A three-man panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] heard the appeal in Lausanne in 2022.

The Welsh club claimed they were not liable for any of the fee because Sala was not officially their player when he died at the age of 28. A Swiss Federal Court is still considering an appeal against the CAS verdict.

EFL rules state that a club who default on a payment for a transfer fee will not be able to make a payment for a player registration until the end of the following season, though Cardiff have now paid the first instalment of the Sala fee, plus interest.

Cardiff are hoping new boss Erol Bulut can inspire a significant improvement next season after they narrowly avoided relegation to League One last term.

They are yet to sign any players this summer.

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Defender Joel Bagan has signed a new three-year deal to remain with Cardiff City.

The 21-year-old left-back has now committed his future to Erol Bulut's Championship side.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 cap joined Cardiff's academy set-up from Southampton in July 2018.

"I'm really happy to get it over the line. I've had a good five years in Cardiff and I'm happy to extend it," Bagan told the Cardiff website.

"I've loved my time at the club so far. I've come through from the under-18s and I'm in the first team now. I'm playing with boys that I've played in the academy with, so hopefully that can carry on this season.

"I've got a lot of people to thank... people who have left and even the players, the senior boys, they've helped me out a lot. My aim now is to play as many games as possible."

Bagan, who spent time at Notts County in the 2019-20 season on a short-term loan, featured in Saturday's pre-season 2-0 win over Penybont before signing his new contract post-match.

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Cardiff City have signed former Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo on loan from French side Troyes.

Ugbo, 24, has agreed a season-long deal to bolster Cardiff's attacking options.

The former England youth international was part of Canada's squad at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar and becomes Erol Bulut's first signing as Cardiff manager.

The Bluebirds are also close to sealing a move for Greece centre-back Dimitrios Goutas.

They are waiting on a medical for the 29-year-old with the intention of agreeing a two-year deal with the three-cap international.

Goutas is available on a free having left Turkish side Sivasspor at the end of last season.

Cardiff are restricted by an EFL transfer embargo that prevents them from paying fees for signings.

Manager Bulut - who was announced as new Bluebirds boss last month - said he had been keen on as many as 10 new signings as he looked to help Cardiff away from last season's position at the bottom end of the Championship.

Dimitrios Goutas in action for Sivasspor
Dimitrios Goutas made his international debut against Spain in 2021
A striker had been high up on Cardiff's transfer priorities with Sory Kaba having not returned at the end of his loan spell, the Midtjylland forward ending the last campaign as the club's top scorer with eight goals.

Conor Wickham did not have his short-term contract renewed while Wales striker Mark Harris turned down the offer of a new deal last week.

Lewisham-born Ugbo is thought to have been of interest to Cardiff since last year and arrives having begun his career with Chelsea, although he spent much of his time with the Premier League club out on loan.

He joined Belgian club Genk on a permanent deal in 2021 before moving to Ligue 1 side Troyes last summer.

"I'm very happy to be here. I've been waiting to come back to the English leagues for a while now and I'm really pleased that it's finally over the line.," Ugbo said.

"I spoke to the manager before coming here. He was telling me how I suit the Club, what I can do to help the Club and what the Club can do to help me.

"I think our ambitions align together, so I think it was a perfect choice for me."

Ugbo switched international allegiances to Canada in 2021 and has won eight caps, although he did not make an appearance from the bench in Qatar.

Cardiff have also held talks with free agent Aaron Ramsey about a move back to his boyhood club, although they are not the only side interested in a deal for the 32-year-old Wales captain.

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Cardiff City have signed striker Karlan Grant on a season-long loan from Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion.

The 25-year-old had been close to joining Swansea City during this year's January transfer window.

But that move fell through late on as West Brom could not find a replacement.

"I spoke with the manager, and he said nothing but good things about the club," Grant said.

"I know how big the stadium is, and I know how good the crowd can be. I've got a few friends here as well.

"Callum Robinson and I got on really well when we were at West Brom, and we're actually still very close.

"He's a good friend of mine and we complement each other when we play together, so hopefully we can replicate that."

Cardiff cannot pay transfer fees for players because of an EFL embargo, but expect to confirm the return of Wales international Aaron Ramsey from Nice soon.

Grant has scored 24 goals in 101 appearances for West Brom, including five in 35 games in all competitions last season.

The former Charlton player joined the Baggies from Huddersfield Town in a £15m move in October 2020.

"Karlan will bring goals, speed and work rate to this team. He works hard on the pitch, not just offensively but in defence as well," Cardiff boss Erol Bulut said.

"Now, we have a few players like Karlan who can play in different positions. He can play as a winger, but we can also use him as a striker and a second striker.

"I am very excited and happy that we have these attacking players. All of them are good goalscorers and playmakers who can make assists.

"They can win games and change the table by getting results for us."

Bulut has already completed moves for former Reading striker Yakou Meite, Canada striker Ike Ugbo and Greece centre-back Dimitrios Goutas.

Wales captain Aaron Ramsey has completed a sensational return to Cardiff City on a two-year deal.

Ramsey, 32, had completed a medical with the Championship club on Thursday.

The ex-Arsenal midfielder's arrival at Cardiff came after Nice had earlier confirmed that Ramsey had left the French club by mutual agreement.

"It feels unbelievable to finally be back here. I always thought one day I'd come back, and now it's the perfect time to do that," he said.

"To be back with my family and around familiar faces is just brilliant, so I'm delighted to be back here now. I've missed that a lot in the last year or so, so it was important for me to be back around them.

"Obviously I'm a Cardiff City fan, and watching them over the years since I've been away, we've had some low points but some big highs as well, being in the Premier League and representing Cardiff on the big stage.

"That's a target of mine - to try and help my team-mates and this club to get back to the top.

"I've said it many times in the past - I owe so much to Cardiff, to the fans, to everybody who has been at the club when I was here as a young boy coming through.

"For me now to come full circle, to be part of this team now, and hopefully achieve the goals we want, there's no better feeling than that."

Ramsey had attracted interest from other clubs but his return represents a significant signing for Cardiff and a major boost for new manager Erol Bulut, who had been keen to bring the player back to the club where his senior career began as a teenager.

Aaron Ramsey in the tunnel at Cardiff City Stadium
Aaron Ramsey returned to Cardiff on loan from Arsenal during the 2010-11 season
"This is, of course, a great day. Aaron started here, and now he is back to help us to achieve our targets," Bulut said.

"First of all I want to thank Tan Sri Vincent Tan for making everything possible. Also, our chairman, Mehmet Dalman and Ken Choo. They have worked very hard over the last two or three weeks.

"Aaron has had a great career. In the Premier League, then Italy and France, and now back home in Cardiff. I hope his last years with us will be great too, and I hope we can make our dreams come true."

Capped 82 times by his country, Ramsey came through the ranks at Cardiff in 2007 before joining Arsenal in 2008.

He returned on loan to the Welsh capital on loan in 2011 as he recovered from a broken leg.

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Ramsey made more than 250 appearances for Arsenal, winning the FA Cup three times, before moving to Juventus on a free transfer in 2019.

He was at Nice last season following a disappointing time in Italy, but has previously stated family considerations would be key to his next move.


Aaron Ramsey scores for Cardiff City at Chasetown in 2008 FA Cup third round
Ramsey told BBC Wales last month: "For sure one day I would love to go back there [Cardiff City].

"It's where I grew up and them giving me that opportunity and platform to go on to what I have achieved so far in my career, I will forever be grateful.

"The most important thing for me is to enjoy my time off now with my family and to make the right decision going forward for us."

Cardiff are currently under an EFL transfer embargo after they defaulted on the initial payment of the £15m transfer fee for the late Emiliano Sala.

However under the embargo, which was recently reduced to January 2024, he club is still permitted to sign players on free transfers.

Meanwhile Sonny Ramsey, Aaron's oldest son, put pen-to-paper on a letter of intent with the club.

Former Cardiff and Wales striker Nathan Blake had said Ramsey's return to the Bluebirds would be "a good move" for the player.

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Cardiff City have signed Nottingham Forest winger Josh Bowler on a season-long loan.

The 24-year-old is Cardiff's sixth recruit of the first close season under new manager Erol Bulut.

Ex-Everton player Bowler played on loan for both Championship rivals Blackpool and Greek side Olympiakos last season.

"I heard about the interest and knew the manager and club really liked me and it was a club I really wanted to come to," Bowler told the club website.

"I've played in the Championship quite a lot. This season for me is about getting minutes and showing everyone at Cardiff City what I can do and hopefully taking them to the promised land.

"With the squad we have and with the additions we've made, that's what we have to aim for."


Aaron Ramsey: Wales midfielder signing gives Cardiff City 'optimism'
Bowler came through the youth ranks at Queens Park Rangers before joining Everton for £1.5m in 2017, but did not make any league appearances there.

He joined Blackpool in July 2021, having more than 50 League outings before being sold to Nottingham Forest for £2.3m in September 2022.

Bowler was immediately loaned out to Forest's sister club Olympiakos before returning to Blackpool on loan last season, where he scored four goals in their ultimately unsuccessful quest to avoid Championship relegation.

He joins fellow new recruits Ike Ugbo, Dimitrios Goutas, Yakou Meite, Karlan Grant and Aaron Ramsey at the Cardiff City Stadium.

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Cardiff City have signed Greece international defensive midfielder Manolis Siopis on a three-year deal.

Siopis, 29, was available on a free transfer after leaving Turkish club Trabzonspor.

Cardiff have also signed Iceland goalkeeper Alex Runarsson on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

"He [Siopis] is a fighter, who will work hard for the team," said Cardiff manger Erol Bulut, who worked with Siopis at former club Alanyaspor.

"The fans will like him and in the last few years, he has increased his technical skills with the ball."

Siopis started his career with Greek giants Olympiacos and was twice named in the Greece Super League team of the year. He also won the Turkish Super League and Super Cup with Trabzonspor.

Siopis' last competitive game was Greece's Euro 2024 qualifier against France in June, which they lost 1-0 at the Stade de France.

"Normally, a player like Manolis, when you try to take him, you can't take him," Bulut added.

"It's really difficult to get a player like this. I brought him to Alanyaspor and he took a really big step to Trabzonspor. When we saw that he became available, we contacted him and we have a really good relationship."

The Bluebirds are under a transfer embargo until next January which means they are only able to sign players on free transfers or loans.

Siopis and Runarsson become the Championship club's seventh and eighth signings this summer and Bulut has said he wants further additions before the transfer window shuts on 1 September.

"I know Erol Bulut very well. We worked together, and he wants to win every time. I also work like this all of my career," Siopis said.

"I have seen the stadium, and I cannot wait to play with our supporters. They will see what I can do on the field."

Runarsson, 28, arrives on loan following an injury to Cardiff goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

The Iceland international began his career with his hometown club KR Reykjavik and had spells at Nordsjaelland and Dijon before joining Arsenal in 2020.

Since his move to the Emirates Stadium, Runarsson has spent time on loan at Belgian club OH Leuven and Turkish outfit Alanyaspor.

"I'm very happy to get the deal over the line. It took some time, but I'm pleased to be here," said Runarsson.

"I spoke to Gunnars [former Cardiff midfielder Aron Gunnarsson] before signing and the first thing he said was 'go' and that he loved it here.

"The manager also spoke to me about the playing style, what he wants from me, what he wants from the team and how he sees my role within the team.

"He saw me play in Turkey when I was on loan there, so it's good that I'm coming to play for a manager that knows me and knows my qualities."

Meanwhile, former Cardiff striker Sory Kaba has joined La Liga side Las Palmas on a four-year deal.

Kaba, 28, scored eight goals in 17 appearances after joining Cardiff on loan last January and had been linked with a return to the Championship.

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Cardiff City have signed ex-England Under-21 defender Jonathan Panzo on loan for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

The 22-year-old Nottingham Forest player had also been linked with Welsh rivals Swansea City.

The Bluebirds could only sign Panzo on loan because of an EFL transfer embargo.

"I picked Cardiff City because of the gaffer, the team and I felt like it was an exciting project," said Panzo.

"I'm buzzing to be here and for it to finally get across the line. I can't wait to get started.

"I want to show the fans what I can do and help the boys shine."

Panzo had a loan spell with Championship play-off finalists Coventry City in 2022-23.

He featured in 29 league games for Mark Robins' team.

"I'm pleased that Jonathan has agreed to join," said Cardiff manager Erol Bulut.

"He's going to bring extra stability to our defence.

"He had a very good season with Coventry City last year and already has great experience of this league.

"He's a left-sided centre-back, which gives us something we needed. It's a very good signing for us."

Panzo left Chelsea for Monaco in a £1.5m deal in 2018, but played just twice for the French club before going to Dijon following a loan spell with Cercle Bruges.

He joined Forest for an undisclosed fee in January 2022 and played once for Steve Cooper's side.

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Nat Phillips playing for Celtic and Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio
Nat Phillips played two games in the Champions League for Celtic while on loan from Liverpool this season
Liverpool defender Nat Phillips is joining Cardiff City on loan for the rest of the season.

Phillips, 26, will be the first recruit for Cardiff manager Erol Bulut in the January transfer window.

Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United were also reportedly keen on the English centre-back.

Phillips has been a member of Jurgen Klopp's squad since 2018, making 19 league appearances and scoring one goal for the Reds.

During his time at Anfield he has twice been on loan at German club VfB Stuttgart and last season was part of Bournemouth's promotion winning Championship side.

This season Phillips has been on loan at Scottish champions Celtic, featuring in eight games, including against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

He also had Champions League experience at Liverpool, fracturing his cheekbone during a game with AC Milan.

Greek international Dimitri Goutas and former Arsenal defender Mark McGuinness have been the first choice centre-back pairing for Cardiff this season.

But Nottingham Forest loanee Jonathan Panzo returned to his parent club early in the January window, so a central defender became a priority for the Bluebirds.

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Cardiff City have signed Celtic midfielder David Turnbull, Manchester City left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.

Scotland international Turnbull, 24, arrives for an undisclosed fee and has agreed a contract running until 2027.

Horvath, a USA international, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal.

England Under-21s international Wilson-Esbrand, 21, joins on loan for the rest of the season.

Turnbull has seven goals in 16 Scottish Premier games this season, but was due to be out of contract this summer.

Nevertheless, Cardiff are thought to have paid of about £2m to secure Turnbull's services.

The five-cap former Motherwell player has made 100 league appearances for Celtic, winning the Scottish Premiership twice, along with two Scottish Cup titles and two Scottish League Cups.

"It's been a long day or two, but I'm really glad to get it over the line and can't wait to get started," Turbull said.

"When I heard of the interest, I was very keen. It's a huge club. I've watched them in past and want to be a part of it now and kick on."

Wilson-Esbrand spent the first half of the season on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims, where he scored once in 11 games.

He joined Manchester City's academy from West Ham United in 2019 and made his first-team debut for in a 6-1 League Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers in 2021.

After featuring in the Champions League against Copenhagen and Sevilla, Wilson-Esbrand joined Coventry City on loan for the second half of the 2022-23 season, making 14 Championship appearances for the Sky Blues.

"As a full-back, a wing-back and a winger, he can add a lot of things," said Cardiff boss Erol Bulut.

"He gives us flexibility, that's important. I spoke to him about what kind of style we play and where I see him as a player, not only as a left-back, but also as a winger.

"For Reims, I was watching, he was also playing as a number eight, he did quite well in that position. It's good that he is flexible."

Josh Wilson-Esbrand in action
Josh Wilson-Esbrand signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City in February 2022
Horvath, 28, helped Forest win promotion to the Premier League in 2021-22 and then repeated that feat while on loan at Luton Town last season.

But his sole outing this season was in a friendly for the USA against Oman.

Horvath's last appearance for Forest was their Championship play-off victory over Huddersfield in May 2022.

Colorado-born Horvath, capped nine times, began his career with Molde, where he won the 2014 Norwegian Premier League.

Ethan Horvath on USA duty
Ethan Horvath was part of the USA squad at the 2022 World Cup
Horvath then moved to Club Brugge, winning the Belgian Pro-League three times and that nation's Super Cup. He also has experience of European competition.

He joined Cardiff on the same day that fellow keeper Alex Runarsson returned to Arsenal after a spell on loan in south Wales.

All the latest Cardiff City news
"He is an international player with USA and got promoted from the Championship with Luton Town and Nottingham Forest," said Bulut.

"He knows the league and that is important for a goalkeeper. Right now, with Jak Alnwick and Horvath, we have two great goalkeepers.

"It's important, you cannot only have loan players. You have to sign permanent players. I think the next few years, the goal is safe here at Cardiff City."

Meanwhile, Cardiff midfielder Andy Rinomhota has joined Rotherham United on loan for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old has made just seven appearances for the Bluebirds under Bulut this season.