2025–26 Bristol City F.C. season

Bristol City
2025–26 season
OwnerSteve Lansdown
ChairmanJon Lansdown
Head CoachGerhard Struber
StadiumAshton Gate

The 2025–26 season is the 128th season in the history of Bristol City Football Club and their eleventh consecutive season in the Championship. In addition to the domestic league, the club also participate in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

Prior to the season starting, the club appointed Gerhard Struber as the new head coach on a three-year contract.[1] Later in the month, the club announced the appointment of Bernd Eibler as assistant coach.[2]

Transfers and contracts

In

Date Pos Player Transferred from Fee Ref.
1 July 2025 FW Yū Hirakawa Machida Zelvia Undisclosed [3][4]
FW Emil Riis Jakobsen Preston North End Free [5][6]
GK Joe Lumley Southampton Free [7][8]
MF Adam Randell Plymouth Argyle Undisclosed [9][10]

Out

Date Pos Player Transferred to Fee Ref.
30 June 2025 FW Tim Ap Sion Free agent Released [11]
GK Stefan Bajic Free agent Released [11]
MF Ayman Benarous Plymouth Argyle Free[a] [11][12]
MF Kai Churchley Free agent Released [11]
DF Kal Naismith Luton Town Free[b] [11][13]
MF Marley Rose Free agent Released [11]
DF Romani Rowe Free agent Released [11]
FW Nahki Wells Free agent Released [14]
DF Callum Wood Free agent Released [11]
1 July 2025 MF Taylor Gardner-Hickman Birmingham City £1,500,000 [15][16]
FW Seb Palmer-Houlden Gillingham Undisclosed [17][18]

Loaned in

Date Pos Player Loaned from Until Ref.

Loaned out

Date Pos. Player Loaned to Until Ref.
1 July 2025 MF Jed Meerholz Aldershot Town 1 January 2026 [19]
4 July 2025 GK Ben Clark Weymouth 31 May 2026 [20]
7 July 2025 DF Taine Anderson Cheltenham Town [21]

New Contracts

Date Pos Player Contracted until Squad Ref.
10 June 2025 DF Josh Campbell-Slowey 30 June 2028 Academy [22][23]
18 June 2025 FW Josh Stokes First team [24][25]
23 June 2025 DF Rob Atkinson First team [26][27]
24 June 2025 FW Leo Pecover Undisclosed Academy [28]
25 June 2025 GK Joe Duncan 30 June 2027 Academy [29]
1 July 2025 GK Lewis Thomas 30 June 2027 First team [30]
  1. ^ Following his release, Benarous joined Plytmouth Argyle as a free agent on 8 July.
  2. ^ Following his release, Naismith joined Luton Town as a free agent on 1 July.

Pre-season and friendlies

On 4 June, Bristol City announced their first pre-season fixture against Milton Keynes Dons.[31] Six days later, three more fixtures were confirmed against Bournemouth, Newport County and Cheltenham Town.[32] A fifth fixture was later added, against Plymouth Argyle.[33]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

19 July 2025 Friendly Bournemouth v Bristol City Wimborne
TBC BST Stadium: Canford Magna Training Ground
Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors)
22 July 2025 Friendly Bristol City v Newport County Failand
12:00 BST Stadium: Robins High Performance Centre
Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors)
22 July 2025 Friendly Milton Keynes Dons Cancelled Bristol City Denbigh
19:45 BST Stadium: Stadium MK
Note: The fixture was cancelled following the two clubs meeting in the 2025–26 EFL Cup first round.[34]
25 July 2025 Friendly Cheltenham Town v Bristol City Cheltenham
19:45 BST Stadium: Whaddon Road
26 July 2025 Friendly Plymouth Argyle v Bristol City Plymouth
15:00 BST Stadium: Home Park

Competitions

Championship

Main article: 2025–26 EFL Championship

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Birmingham City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Blackburn Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Bristol City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
4 Charlton Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Coventry City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 8 August 2025. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) Number of 12-point sending off offences; 9) Play-off (only if needed to determine promotion/relegation)[35]

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Last updated: pre-season.
Source: Soccerway

Results by round

Round1
Ground
Result
Position
Points
Source: EFL
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed

Matches

On 26 June, the fixtures were released.[36]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

9 August 2025 1 Sheffield United v Bristol City Sheffield
17:30 BST Stadium: Bramall Lane
16 August 2025 2 Bristol City v Charlton Athletic Bristol
15:00 BST Stadium: Ashton Gate
22 August 2025 3 Derby County v Bristol City Derby
20:00 BST Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was moved live Sky Sports broadcasting.[37]
30 August 2025 4 Bristol City v Hull City Bristol
15:00 BST Stadium: Ashton Gate
13 September 2025 5 Sheffield Wednesday v Bristol City Owlerton
15:00 BST Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
21 September 2025 6 Bristol City v Oxford United Bristol
15:00 BST Stadium: Ashton Gate
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for 20 September, but was moved back a day.[37]

FA Cup

Main article: 2025–26 FA Cup

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

EFL Cup

Main article: 2025–26 EFL Cup

Bristol City were drawn at home to Milton Keynes Dons in the first round.[38][37]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

12 August 2025 First round Bristol City v Milton Keynes Dons Bristol
19:45 BST Stadium: Ashton Gate

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Players with no appearances are not included on the list
Italics indicate a loaned in player

No. Pos Nat Player Total Championship FA Cup EFL Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals

References

  1. ^ Bristol City FC (19 June 2025). "Struber appointed Head Coach". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  2. ^ Bristol City FC (27 June 2025). "Eibler appointed Assistant Head Coach". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  3. ^ Bristol City FC (24 February 2025). "Hirakawa permanent move confirmed". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 25 February 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  4. ^ BBC Sport (24 February 2025). "Hirakawa permanent move confirmed". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  5. ^ Bristol City FC (30 June 2025). "Riis is a Robin". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  6. ^ Carter, Daniel (30 June 2025). "Emil Riis explains Bristol City hope as Reds confirm signing of experienced Championship forward". Bristol Live. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  7. ^ Bristol City FC (25 June 2025). "Lumley is a Red". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  8. ^ BBC Sport (25 June 2025). "Bristol City sign free-agent goalkeeper Lumley". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  9. ^ Bristol City FC (20 June 2025). "Randell is a Robin". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  10. ^ BBC Sport (20 June 2025). "Bristol City sign Plymouth midfielder Randell". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Bristol City FC (17 May 2025). "City announce retained list". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 17 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  12. ^ Plymouth Argyle FC (8 July 2025). "Ayman Benarous signs for Argyle". Plymouth Argyle FC. Archived from the original on 9 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  13. ^ BBC Sport (10 June 2025). "Naismith returns to Luton after Robins exit". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  14. ^ Bristol City FC (23 June 2025). "Wells to depart". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  15. ^ Bristol City FC (3 February 2025). "Gardner-Hickman completes Birmingham move". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  16. ^ Haffenden, Charlie (11 December 2024). "Birmingham City consider pulling trigger for £1.5m midfielder transfer". BirminghamWorld. Archived from the original on 17 March 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  17. ^ Bristol City FC (23 May 2025). "Palmer-Houlden to join Gillingham". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  18. ^ BBC Sport (23 May 2025). "Gillingham sign Bristol City forward Palmer-Houlden". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  19. ^ Aldershot Town FC (1 July 2025). "NEW SIGNING: Jed Meerholz". Aldershot Town FC. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  20. ^ Bristol City FC [@BristolCity] (4 July 2025). "Young 'keeper Ben Clark has joined Weymouth on loan!" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 July 2025 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Bristol City FC (7 July 2025). "Anderson joins Cheltenham on loan". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 9 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  22. ^ Bristol City FC (10 June 2025). "Campbell-Slowey signs new deal". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  23. ^ Hargraves, Daniel (10 June 2025). "'Delighted' - Josh Campbell-Slowey's first words as Bristol City youngster signs new deal in BS3". Bristol Live. Archived from the original on 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  24. ^ Bristol City FC (18 June 2025). "Stokes signs new deal". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  25. ^ Cork, Tristan (18 June 2025). "Bristol City announce new three year deal for Josh Stokes". Bristol Live. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  26. ^ Bristol City FC (23 June 2025). "Atkinson extends City stay". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  27. ^ Lacey, Pepe (23 June 2025). "BREAKING: Portsmouth dealt major blow in pursuit of Bristol City's Rob Atkinson". The News. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  28. ^ Bristol City FC (24 June 2025). "Pecover signs pro deal". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  29. ^ Bristol City FC (25 June 2025). "New contract for Duncan". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  30. ^ Bristol City FC (1 July 2025). "Thomas signs extension". Bristol City FC. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  31. ^ "City to travel to MK Dons in Pre-Season". Bristol City FC. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  32. ^ "Three more pre-season fixtures announced". Bristol City FC. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  33. ^ "City to travel to Plymouth in pre-season". Bristol City FC. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  34. ^ "Pre-season fixture change". Bristol City FC. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  35. ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". English Football League. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  36. ^ "Championship 2025/26 fixtures, dates, schedule & how to watch: Birmingham vs Ipswich, Southampton vs Wrexham open new season". Sky Sports. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  37. ^ a b c "First TV selections announced". Bristol City FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  38. ^ "Carabao Cup Round One confirmed". English Football League. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.