Cardiff City’s 24/25 Season Preview: Key Transfers and Expectations
Image Credit: Jon Candy
Things are looking good before the start of the upcoming 24/25 season for Cardiff City, with Erol Bulut and his team putting in serious work on recruitment. After a 12th-place, middle-of-the-table finish, Bulut will be looking to bring Premier League football back to the capital for the first time since the 17/18 season under Neil Warnock. Last season saw some successful transfers into the team, but it was mainly filled with failures that had Bluebirds fans wondering if they’d be watching Championship football for years to come. However, this year, the incoming players that walk straight into the first team have all eyes on how far Bulut’s men can go this season. This article will break down each major transfer and what they can offer for the 24/25 season.
Chris Willock
Chris Willock is an experienced Championship winger who played 39 times for QPR last season and has made 154 appearances in the Championship while only being 26. Scoring 4 goals and assisting 4 might look like a disappointing season for Willock, but the Englishman was battling for minutes for the whole campaign. Willock showed his class with 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 games where he was trusted by Cifuentes at QPR, providing City fans with an insight into the talent he can provide. With the target man style of football that Bulut likes to play, wingers are a key factor, and Willock offers the brains and technique to deliver the service that Cardiff has been lacking. Like most of the business this season, Willock was brought in on a free transfer, which removes the pressure of living up to the price tag, something past players at the club have fallen victim to. All eyes will be on how Bulut will line up his team for the opening fixture at home vs Sunderland, and Willock will look to have an impact from the start to impress the Bluebird faithful.
Calum Chambers
After Chris Willock was picked up off the free agents list, right-back Calum Chambers was targeted by Bulut and subsequently picked up on the same deal. A household name for any Premier League fan, Chambers has made a name for himself as a capable defensive option for clubs such as Arsenal and his most recent team, Aston Villa. The 29-year-old signed with Arsenal from Southampton for £20 million in 2014 and went on to make 122 appearances before being loaned out to Fulham and eventually finding his way to Villa on a free. Chambers offers an incredible amount of experience at only 29, with 17 appearances in the Europa League, an FA Cup winner's medal, and 181 Premier League games under his belt. Chambers has been used at both center-back and right-back evenly throughout his career, which gives Bulut the freedom to let Perry Ng keep his spot while Chambers plays at CB and lets Chambers fill in for any of Ng’s absences. A defensive-minded player is crucial for every transfer window, yet often overlooked by fans who want the flashy signings that will bring the goals, and Chambers will be looking to gain support from fans with clean sheets for City.
Anwar El Ghazi
Another ex-Villain joins Cardiff this season on a free transfer alongside Chambers, and Anwar El Ghazi will be looking to link up with him down the right. A journeyman, so to speak, El Ghazi has played his football in four major leagues; making a name for himself in the Eredivisie at Ajax, playing 39 times in France for Lille, joining Aston Villa for £9 million, and most recently finding himself in Germany with Mainz. The 29-year-old Dutch international will be looking to add to his 73 appearances and 15 goals in England, and his impressive 6’2” stature will offer tricky skills out on the wing and an aerial threat in the box. The only concern for Cardiff fans will be El Ghazi’s lack of game time in the 2023/24 season. El Ghazi only played 3 times for Mainz at the start of the season and didn’t feature again after comments over the current situation in Gaza. He has not had time to play in Cardiff’s friendlies, meaning City fans will most likely have to wait to see what El Ghazi can bring to the side.
Wilfried Kanga
As previously mentioned in this article, Cardiff has resorted to a target forward in their attack over the last few seasons, so it was inevitable to see the 6’2” frame of Wilfried Kanga come in on loan from Hertha Berlin for the 24/25 season. Kanga came through the PSG academy and represented France at a young age before changing his allegiance to Ivory Coast. Kanga’s best season came at Young Boys in Switzerland, where the striker used his strength and power to score 15 from 33 league games. Wilfried’s most recent season was an impressive loan stint at Standard Liege in Belgium, where he netted 12 goals. However, he wasn’t in consideration for the Hertha Berlin squad and has found his way to the Welsh capital on loan again. Kanga looked sharp in a recent friendly vs. Bristol Rovers but will face competition for the starting spot from Callum Robinson, who’s found great form in preseason. The 26-year-old will be looking for another sharp loan stint to impress his boss back in Berlin and reach impressive goal-scoring numbers, which could work out nicely for Cardiff.
At the time of writing, Alex Robertson from Man City looks to be close to signing under Bulut for a reported £3 million fee, which would be a big gamble for the Bluebirds on an exciting prospect who’s only recently seen first-team football last season at Portsmouth. The Australian 21-year-old is an attacking midfielder with lots of potential and a big signing for the future of the Bluebirds' push toward Premier League football.
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