2023–24 Cardiff City F.C. season explained

Club:	Cardiff City
Season:	2023–24
Owner:	Vincent Tan
Chairman:	Mehmet Dalman
Manager:	Erol Bulut^[1]
Stadium:	Cardiff City Stadium
League:	Championship
League Result:	12th
Updated:	4 May 2024
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	Third round
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	Third round
League Topscorer:	Perry Ng (6) Karlan Grant (6)
Season Topscorer:	Kion Etete (6) Perry Ng (6) Karlan Grant (6)
Highest Attendance:	28,648 vs. Swansea City, 16 September 2023
Lowest Attendance:	17,131 vs. Blackburn Rovers, 20 February 2024
Average Attendance:	21,213
Largest Win:	4–0 vs. Huddersfield Town, 25 October 2023
Largest Loss:	1–4 vs. Norwich City, 17 February 2024 1–4 vs. Middlesbrough, 27 April 2024 2-5 vs. Rotherham, 4 May 2024
Prevseason:	2022–23
Nextseason:	2024–25

The 2023–24 season is the 125th season in the history of Cardiff City and their fifth consecutive season in the Championship. The club are participating in the Championship, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup.

Current squad

No.	Name	Nat.	Position(s)	Date of birth (Age)	Apps.	Goals	Year signed	Signed from	Transfer fee	Ends
Goalkeepers
1	Ethan Horvath		GK	1995 6, df=yes	16	0	2024	Nottingham Forest	Undisclosed	2027
21	Jak Alnwick		GK	1993 6, df=yes	32	0	2022	St Mirren	Free	2025
28	Rohan Luthra		GK	2002 5, df=yes	1	0	2021	Crystal Palace	Free	2024
41	Matthew Turner		GK	2002 3, df=yes	0	0	2021	Leeds United	Free	2024
Defenders
2	Mahlon Romeo		RB/RM	1995 9, df=yes	51	0	2022	Millwall	Undisclosed	2025
4	Dimitrios Goutas		CB	1994 4, df=yes	45	4	2023	Sivasspor	Free	2025
5	Mark McGuinness		CB	2001 1, df=yes	84	4	2021	Arsenal	Undisclosed	2027
12	Nat Phillips		CB	1997 3, df=yes	18	1	2024	Liverpool	Loan	2024
15	Oliver Denham		CB/RB	2002 5, df=yes	8	0	2021	Manchester United	Trainee	2024
17	Jamilu Collins		LB/CB/LM	1994 8, df=yes	40	1	2022	SC Paderborn	Free	2024
30	Josh Wilson-Esbrand		LB	2002 12, df=yes	11	0	2024	Manchester City	Loan	2024
38	Perry Ng		RB/LB/CB	1996 4, df=yes	144	8	2021	Crewe Alexandra	£350,000	2026
Midfielders
6	Ryan Wintle		DM/CM/CB	1997 6, df=yes	117	5	2021	Crewe Alexandra	Free	2026
8	Joe Ralls		CM/LM/DM	1993 10, df=yes	386	34	2011	Academy	Trainee	2025
10	Aaron Ramsey		CM/AM	1990 12, df=yes	41	6	2023	Nice	Free	2025
11	Callum O'Dowda		LW/AM/RW/LWB	1995 4, df=yes	51	4	2022	Bristol City	Free	2025
15	David Turnbill		AM	1999 7, df=yes	17	0	2024	Celtic	Undisclosed	2027
19	Romaine Sawyers		AM/CM/SS	1991 11, df=yes	44	3	2022	West Bromwich Albion	Free	2024
23			CM	1994 5, df=yes	41	0	2023	Trabzonspor	Free	2026
27	Rubin Colwill		AM/LW/RW	2002 4, df=yes	105	9	2020	Academy	Trainee	2027
32	Ollie Tanner		LW/AM/RW	2002 5, df=yes	40	2	2022	Lewes	£50,000	2027
34	Joel Colwill		CM	2004 10, df=yes	5	0	2022	Academy	Trainee	2028
45	Cian Ashford		AM/LW/RW	2004 9, df=yes	9	1	2022	Academy	Trainee	2027
Forwards
9	Kion Etete		CF/SS	2001 11, df=yes	61	9	2022	Tottenham Hotspur	£500,000	2025
14	Josh Bowler		RW/LW	1999 3, df=yes	38	5	2023	Nottingham Forest	Loan	2024
16	Karlan Grant		CF/LW	1997 9, df=yes	39	6	2023	West Bromwich Albion	Loan	2024
20	Famara Diédhiou		CF	1992 12, df=yes	16	2	2024	Granada	Loan	2024
22	Yakou Méïté		LW/CF/RW	1996 2, df=yes	37	2	2023	Reading	Free	2025
47	Callum Robinson		LW/CF/RW	1995 2, df=yes	47	10	2022	West Bromwich Albion	£1,500,000	2025
Out on Loan
3	Joel Bagan		LB	2001 9, df=yes	42	3	2020	Academy	Trainee	2026
18	Ebou Adams		CM/DM/AM	1996 1, df=yes	12	0	2022	Forest Green Rovers	Free	2025
25	Kieron Evans		AM	2001 12, df=yes	11	1	2020	Academy	Trainee	2024
35			CM/DM/RM	1997 4, df=yes	48	0	2022	Reading	Free	2025
39	Isaak Davies		SS/RW/LW	2001 9, df=yes	42	4	2020	Academy	Trainee	2025
44	Xavier Benjamin		CB	2004 1, df=yes	2	0	2022	Fulham	Academy	2024
54	Sheyi Ojo		LW/RW/SS	1997 6, df=yes	81	7	2022	Liverpool	Free	2024
—	Eli King		DM/CM	2002 12, df=yes	7	0	2021	Academy	Trainee	2026
	Ryotaro Tsunoda		CB/LB	1999 6, df=yes	0	0	2024	Yokohama F. Marinos	Undisclosed

Statistics

Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Cardiff City.|-!colspan=15|Out on Loan:|-!colspan=15|Players who have left the club:|}

Goals record

width=50px	Rank !	width=50px	No. !	width=50px	Nat. !	width=50px	Po. !	width=150px	Name !	width=150px	Championship !	width=150px	FA Cup !	width=150px	EFL Cup !	width=150px	Total
1	9		CF		3	0	3	6
	16		CF		6	0	0	6
	38		RB		6	0	0	6
4	14		RW		5	0	0	5
5	4		CB		4	0	0	4
	12		CF		4	0	0	4
	Own Goals				4	0	0	4
8	6		DM		2	0	1	3
	10		CM		3	0	0	3
	27		AM		1	0	2	3
	47		LW		2	0	1	3
12	5		CB		2	0	0	2
	20		CF		2	0	0	2
	22		CF		2	0	0	2
	32		RW		2	0	0	2
16	8		CM		1	0	0	1
	11		LM		1	0	0	1
	12		CB		1	0	0	1
	17		LB		1	0	0	1
	45		AM		1	0	0	1
Total					51	0	7	58

Assists record

width=50px	Rank !	width=50px	No. !	width=50px	Nat. !	width=50px	Po. !	width=150px	Name !	width=150px	Championship !	width=150px	FA Cup !	width=150px	EFL Cup !	width=150px	Total
1	8		CM		7	0	0	7
2	6		DM		4	0	0	4
	27		AM		2	0	2	4
	38		RB		4	0	0	4
5	16		CF		2	0	1	3
	17		LB		3	0	0	3
7	14		RW		2	0	0	2
	47		LW		2	0	0	2
9	11		LM		1	0	0	1
	12		CF		1	0	0	1
	15		AM		1	0	0	1
	19		AM		0	0	1	1
	22		CF		1	0	0	1
	25		AM		0	0	1	1
	32		RW		1	0	0	1
	35		CM		0	0	1	1
	45		AM		1	0	0	1
	49		LB		1	0	0	1
Total					33	0	6	39

Disciplinary record

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name	Championship			Total
1	38		RB		9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0	0
2	4		CB		8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0
	17		LB		8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0
4	22		LW		7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	0
4	14		RW		5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
5	23		CM		5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
	27		AM		4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	0	0
8	6		DM		4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
9	8		CM		3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
	9		CF		2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	0
	16		CF		3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
	18		CM		3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
	32		RW		3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
14	2		RB		0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0
	5		CB		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	10		CM		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	12		CB		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	24		CB		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
20	15		AM		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	21		GK		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	26		CB		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	30		LB		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	35		CM		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0
	44		CB		0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total					76	1	0	2	0	0	4	0	0	82	1	0

Clean sheets

Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play.

Rank			Name	Matches played	Championship	FA Cup	EFL Cup	Total
1	21			25	7	0	0	7
2	1			16	4	0	0	4
3	13			8	1	0	0	1

Captains

Correct as of match played on 5 May 2024

			Name	Championship	FA Cup	EFL Cup	Total
8		CM	Joe Ralls	30	0	0	30
6		CM		11	1	1	13
10		CM		2	0	0	2
19		AM		0	0	1	1
21		GK		0	0	1	1

Contracts

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	Status	Contract Length	Expiry Date	Ref.
9 June 2023				Rejected	0 years	June 2023	^[2]
9 June 2023				Signed	3 years	June 2026	^[3]
9 June 2023				Signed	3 years	June 2026	^[4]
4 August 2023				Signed	3 years	June 2026	^[5]
17 August 2023				Signed	4 years	June 2027	^[6]
24 August 2023				Signed	3 years	June 2026	^[7]
15 September 2023				Signed	5 years	June 2028	^[8]
15 September 2023				Signed	4 years	June 2027
18 September 2023				Signed	1 year	June 2025	^[9]
19 January 2024				Signed	years	June 2027	^[10]
11 March 2024				Signed	1 year	June 2025	^[11]

Transfers

In

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Ref
5 July 2023				Free Transfer	^[12]
6 July 2023		Freddie Cook †		Free Transfer	^[13]
7 July 2023				Free Transfer	^[14]
15 July 2023				Free Transfer	^[15]
21 July 2023		Finlay Johnson ‡		Compensation	^[16]
18 August 2023				Free Transfer	^[17]
15 September 2023		Corey Foggarty †		Free Transfer	^[18]
19 September 2023		Malachi Fagan-Walcott ‡			^[19]
23 January 2024				Undisclosed	^[20]
1 February 2024				Undisclosed	^[21]
1 February 2024				Undisclosed	^[22]

‡ Signed initially for the Under-21s
† Signed initially for the Academy

Out

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Ref
30 June 2023		Jac Clay		Released
30 June 2023				Released	^[23]
30 June 2023		Taylor Jones		Released
30 June 2023		Jack Leahy		Released	^[24]
30 June 2023		Aidan MacNamara		Released
30 June 2023				Released	^[25] ^[26]
30 June 2023		Owen Pritchard		Released
30 June 2023				Released	^[27]
30 June 2023				Released	^[28]
30 June 2023				Released
24 July 2023				Undisclosed	^[29]
30 August 2023				Undisclosed	^[30]
31 August 2023				Mutual Consent	^[31]
1 February 2024				Mutual Consent	^[32] ^[33]

Loaned in

Date	Pos	Player	Loaned from	Date until	Ref
4 July 2023				11 January 2024	^[34] ^[35]
15 July 2023				End of Season	^[36]
1 August 2023				End of Season	^[37]
18 August 2023				1 February 2024	^[38] ^[39]
1 September 2023				End of Season	^[40]
30 January 2024				End of Season	^[41]
31 January 2024				End of Season	^[42]
1 February 2024				End of Season	^[43]

Loaned out

Date	Pos	Player	Loaned to	End date	Ref
10 July 2023				22 January 2024	^[44]
26 July 2023				End of Season	^[45]
28 July 2023				8 January 2024	^[46] ^[47]
2 August 2023				End of Season	^[48]
11 August 2023				End of Season	^[49]
16 August 2023				End of Season	^[50]
24 August 2023				1 January 2024	^[51]
26 August 2023				End of Season	^[52] ^[53]
12 January 2024				End of Season	^[54]
15 January 2024				End of Season	^[55]
17 January 2024				End of Season	^[56]
23 January 2024				End of Season
31 January 2024				End of Season	^[57]
31 January 2024				End of Season	^[58]
1 February 2024		Xavier Benjamin		End of Season	^[59]
1 February 2024		Jake Dennis		End of Season	^[60]
1 February 2024		Ryan kavanagh		End of Season	^[61]
1 February 2024				End of Season	^[62]
2 February 2024				End of Season	^[63]

Pre-season and friendlies

On 9 June, Cardiff City announced their first pre-season friendly, against Wycombe Wanderers to contest Joe Jacobson's tesimonial.^[64] Two weeks later, two home friendlies were confirmed, against Penybont and The New Saints.^[65] Two behind-closed-doors fixtures were also included during pre-season, against Cambridge United and Bristol Rovers.^[66]

Competitions

Championship

See main article: 2023–24 EFL Championship.

Matches

On 22 June, the EFL Championship fixtures were released.^[67]

FA Cup

See main article: 2023–24 FA Cup.

Cardiff entered the competition in the third round, as a Championship club, and were drawn away to Sheffield Wednesday.^[68]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2023–24 EFL Cup.

Cardiff were drawn at home to Colchester United in the first round,^[69] and then away to Birmingham City in the second round^[70] and Blackburn Rovers in the third round.^[71]

Welsh League Cup

See main article: 2023–24 Welsh League Cup.

Cardiff were drawn away against Cambrian & Clydach Vale in the first round.^[72]

Notes and References

1. News: Erol Bulut appointed as First Team Manager . 3 June 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 3 June 2023.
2. News: Mark Harris departs . Cardiff City FC . 30 June 2023 . 30 June 2023.
3. News: Joel Bagan pens a new City deal . Cardiff City F.C. . 1 July 2023 . 1 July 2023.
4. News: Eli King signs new three-year contract . Cardiff City F.C. . 27 June 2023 . 28 June 2023.
5. News: Ryan Wintle pens a new three-year deal . Cardiff City F.C. . 4 August 2023 . 4 August 2023.
6. News: Mark McGuinness signs a new four-year deal . Cardiff City F.C. . 17 August 2023 . 17 August 2023.
7. News: Perry Ng signs new City deal . Cardiff City F.C. . 24 August 2023 . 24 August 2023.
8. News: Rubin Colwill & Joe Colwill sign new City deals . Cardiff City . 15 September 2023 . 15 September 2023.
9. News: Jak Alnwick pens a new contract . Cardiff City . 18 September 2023 . 18 September 2023.
10. News: Cian Ashford extends contract with the Bluebirds . Cardiff City . 19 January 2024 . 19 January 2024.
11. News: Cardiff City: Captain Joe Ralls signs new Bluebirds contract . BBC Sport Football . 11 March 2024 . 29 March 2024.
12. News: Dimitrios Goutas joins Cardiff City . Cardiff City F.C. . 5 July 2023 . 5 July 2023.
13. News: Young Bluebirds sign professional contracts with Cardiff City . 6 July 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 6 July 2023.
14. News: Yakou Méïté signs for Cardiff City . Cardiff City FC . 7 July 2023 . 7 July 2023.
15. News: Aaron Ramsey returns home . Cardiff City FC . 15 July 2023 . 15 July 2023.
16. News: Finlay Johnson signs for City . 21 July 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 21 July 2023.
17. News: Manolis Siopis is a Bluebird . 18 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 18 August 2023.
18. News: Corey Foggarty signs for City . 15 September 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 15 September 2023.
19. News: Malachi Fagan-Walcott signs for City . 19 September 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 19 September 2023.
20. News: Tsunoda completes transfer and loan out deal . Cardiff City FC . 23 January 2024.
21. News: Ethan Horvath signs . 2 February 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 1 February 2024.
22. News: David Turnbull is a Bluebird . Cardiff City F.C. . 11 February 2024 . 1 February 2024.
23. News: Oxford sign former Cardiff forward Harris . 11 July 2023 . British Broadcasting Corporation . 11 July 2023.
24. News: Jack Leahy signs . Hornchurch FC . 23 June 2023 . 28 June 2023.
25. News: 2022/23 Retained List . 9 June 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 9 June 2023.
26. News: Rotherham sign keeper Phillips after Cardiff exit . 4 July 2023 . British Broadcasting Corporation . 4 July 2023.
27. News: Port Vale FC Announce Tom Sang As First Summer Signing . 12 June 2023 . Port Vale FC . 12 June 2023.
28. News: Pompey Complete Whyte Signing . 2 July 2023 . Portsmouth FC . 2 July 2023.
29. News: Max Watters Returns To Oakwell In Permanent Deal . 24 July 2023 . Barnsley FC . 24 July 2023.
30. News: Ryan Allsop joins Hull City . 30 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 30 August 2023.
31. News: Jack Simpson leaves by mutual consent . 31 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 31 August 2023.
32. News: Vontae Daley-Campbell departs . 1 February 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 1 February 2024.
33. News: Posh Complete Signing Of Daley-Campbell . 15 February 2024 . Peterborough United FC . 14 February 2024.
34. News: Iké Ugbo is a Bluebird . 4 July 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 4 July 2023.
35. News: Ugbo recalled by Troyes . 11 January 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 11 January 2024.
36. News: Karlan Grant is a Bluebird . Cardiff City . 15 July 2023 . 15 July 2023.
37. News: Josh Bowler is a Bluebird . Cardiff City . 1 August 2023 . 1 August 2023.
38. News: JRúnar Alex Rúnarsson joins from Arsenal . Cardiff City . 18 August 2023 . 1 August 2023.
39. News: Rúnarsson returns to Arsenal . 1 February 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 1 February 2024.
40. News: Jonathan Panzo picks the Bluebirds . Cardiff City . 1 September 2023 . 1 September 2023.
41. News: Nat Phillips joins Cardiff City . 31 January 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 30 January 2024.
42. News: Famara Diédhiou signs for the Bluebirds on loan . Cardiff City . 11 February 2024 . 31 January 2024.
43. News: Josh Wilson-Esbrand joins Cardiff City . 2 February 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 1 February 2024.
44. News: Ollie Denham joins Dundee United . Cardiff City F.C. . 10 July 2023 . 10 July 2023.
45. News: Davies joins Killie from Cardiff . 26 July 2023 . Kilmarnock FC . 26 July 2023.
46. News: King arrives on loan from Cardiff . 28 July 2023 . Morecambe FC . 28 July 2023.
47. News: Bluebirds recall Eli King . 8 January 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 8 January 2024.
48. News: Isaak Davies joins K.V. Kortrijk . 2 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 2 August 2023.
49. News: Joel Bagan joins S.V. Zulte Waregem . 11 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 11 August 2023.
50. News: Sheyi Ojo joins K.V. Kortrijk . 16 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 16 August 2023.
51. News: Rohan Luthra joins Slough Town . 24 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 24 August 2023.
52. News: Chanka Zimba joins Maidenhead United . 26 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 26 August 2023.
53. News: Chanka Zimba extends spell with Maidenhead United . 8 January 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 8 January 2024.
54. News: Fagan-Walcott joins Dunfermline Athletic on loan . 12 January 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 12 January 2024.
55. News: Eli King joins Ross County . Cardiff City FC . 15 January 2024.
56. News: Kieron Evans joins Gateshead . 17 January 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 17 January 2024.
57. News: Ebou Adams joins Derby County . 31 January 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 31 January 2024.
58. News: James Crole joins Queen's Park . 31 January 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 31 January 2024.
59. News: Xavier Benjamin joins Dunfermline Athletic on loan . 2 February 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 1 February 2024.
60. News: Jake Dennis joins Gloucester City on loan . Cardiff City F.C. . 11 February 2024 . 1 February 2024.
61. News: Ryan Kavanagh joins Truro City on loan . Cardiff City F.C. . 11 February 2024 . 1 February 2024.
62. News: Andy Rinomhota joins Rotherham United . 2 February 2024 . Cardiff City FC . 1 February 2024.
63. News: Ollie Denham joins on loan from Cardiff City . Sligo Rovers . 2 February 2024.
64. News: Pre-Season 2023 Wycombe Wanderers vs. Cardiff City - 29/07 . 9 June 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 9 June 2023.
65. News: 2023 Pre-Season Home Fixtures Announced . 23 June 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 23 June 2023.
66. News: Behind Closed Doors Fixtures Announced . 29 June 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 29 June 2023.
67. News: 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship fixtures . 22 June 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 22 June 2023.
68. News: City to visit Sheffield Wednesday . 11 December 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 3 December 2023.
69. News: Carabao Cup: Burton v Leicester, Leeds v Shrewsbury & Gillingham v Southampton in first round . 22 June 2023 . British Broadcasting Corporation . 22 June 2023.
70. News: 2023/24 Carabao Cup Round Two Birmingham City vs. Cardiff City . 10 August 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 9 August 2023.
71. News: Carabao Cup Round Three draw confirmed . 31 August 2023 . English Football League . 30 August 2023.
72. News: Nathaniel MG Cup First Round Draw Cambrian & Clydach vs. City . 27 June 2023 . Cardiff City FC . 27 June 2023.