Cardiff City

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Yousef Salech struck twice in the first half as Cardiff City completed their pre-season trip to Spain with a 3-0 win over National League Southend United.

Wales international Rubin Colwill was provider for both goals scored by Salech, who joined Cardiff in January.

Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy made wholesale changes for the second half, among them Joel Colwill, who scored a third late on at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia.

Dimitrious Goutas has returned to the Turkish Super Lig after agreeing a two-year deal with Genclerbirligi.

Centre-back Goutas, 31, left Cardiff City with his contract up this summer.

The Greece international spent two years with the Bluebirds, scoring five goals in 81 appearances for the Welsh club.

But he departed after Cardiff's relegation to League One and gone back to Turkey, where he played for Sivasspor before moving to Wales.

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Cardiff City were denied victory by a stoppage time goal in their first pre-season friendly against Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim in Spain.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Cardiff started with a different side for the second half and David Turnbull put them ahead three minutes after the interval.

Johor Darul Ta'zim – also known as the Southern Tigers - equalised just before the hour mark but Rubin Colwill's free-kick three minutes later restored Cardiff's lead .

The Bluebirds were reduced to 10 men with six minutes remaining when Yousef Salech was shown a red card and the opponents scored in stoppage time to earn a draw at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia.

Brian Barry-Murphy's team face National League side Southend United at the Pinatar Arena on Saturday.

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Four of Cardiff City's League One fixtures in August have been selected for live television coverage.

The Bluebirds' season-opener at home to Peterborough United on Saturday, 2 August will now start at 12:30 BST in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Brian Barry-Murphy's men will again be under the lenses in their first away match of the season against Port Vale, which has been moved to Thursday, 7 August at 20:00 BST.

Another away game, at Luton Town on Saturday, 23 August, will now kick off at 12:30 BST.

The fourth televised game will see the Bluebirds back at Cardiff City Stadium against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, 30 August at 12:30 BST.

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Cardiff City youngster Isaac Jefferies has signed a new contract with the League One club, while the Bluebirds have added three new recruits to their under-21 squad.

Winger Jefferies, 20, made his first-team debut in the EFL Cup defeat to Southampton last September having been at the club since he was aged eight.

The length of Jefferies' new deal has not been specified.

Cardiff, meanwhile, have added right-back Charlie O'Brien, centre-back Gabriel Keita and midfielder Matthew Apter (above) to their under-21 ranks.

O'Brien, 20, arrives at Cardiff having previously played for League of Ireland side Cobh Ramblers.

Keita, 18, joins having previously been on the books at Norwich City while 19-year-old Apter moves to Wales after leaving Everton.

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Cardiff City's coaching team for the 2025-25 season has been finalised, with new head coach Brian Barry-Murphy bringing in another member of his former Rochdale staff in Kevin Gibbins.

Gibbins has been appointed head of performance at Cardiff following the departure of Jonny Northeast, who has left the League One club for Besiktas.

Gibbins previously worked under Barry-Murphy at Rochdale and leaves the National League to join the Bluebirds.

"Kevin has a deep understanding of the adaptation physically in terms of what fitness we require," Barry-Murphy told the Cardiff website.

"His appointment is of paramount importance, and I'm really grateful for the club to give me that support to get somebody in who I believe is best in class in such an important role."

Gibbins joins former Rochdale colleague Lee Riley, who has left a role in Manchester City's academy to become Cardiff's assistant head coach.

Gavin Ward is to stay on as the Welsh club's goalkeeping coach having returned to his former club in September 2024.

Cardiff have also brought in data analyst Rob Clarke, who they say will complement lead first-team analyst Luke Foulkes and first-team analyst Matt Jenkins.

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Cardiff City have allowed forward Roko Simic to join Bundesliga 2 team Karlsruher SC on loan for the 2025-26 season.

The 21-year-old Italian signed for the Bluebirds in August 2024 and has yet to make his competitive debut for Cardiff, spending part of last season on loan at Kortrijk in Belgium.

BBC Sport Wales asked Cardiff City fans for their views on potential new ownership of the club by a Gareth Bale-led consortium and the new management after the appointment of Brian Barry-Murphy as head coach.

Kathryn:

I have supported Cardiff City for 60 years and over the past few seasons I have not enjoyed it at all. Tan has no clue how to run a football club and it breaks my heart to find us in Division One. We need some fresh blood and I would be delighted to see Gareth Bale and his Associates come in and make my club a Premier League Club again.

David:

I think the club need a change of direction, no identity or solid leadership for a while now at Cardiff City, we became an established Championship team but then struggled with lack of, or correct investment, in the right players and managers. Grateful to Mr V Tan for the many good seasons and taking us to the Premiership and previous good players and managers, but now in League 1, a rebuild and new leadership is required to steer the club in right direction and unite fans and club again.

Callum:

BBM quite an underwhelming appointment, but has fantastic opportunity to work with some really talented youngsters. Bale would have the City rocking. Although the fans would take anyone to replace Tan at this point, not just an American consortium fronted by Bale!

Shaun:

[Bale] Would make a lot of us fans very happy. Tan selling generally would but with a footballing hero local lad would be even better.

Kevin:

Very average season ahead. Can't see how we will attract good players in League One. Need a change of ownership and a clear football strategy.

Richard:

Fantastic news that Gareth Bale wants to spearhead a takeover of our club. We need people on the board with football knowledge unlike the present board of directors who are responsible for running down our club into League One.

Ben:

I hope Bale and co buy us! Having a fan at the wheel would make such a difference compared to someone who never shows up.

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Cardiff City will host League Two side Swindon Town in the first round of the EFL Cup, with the tie to be played in the week commencing 11 August.

Swindon, managed by the experienced Ian Holloway, finished 12th in the fourth tier last season.

The home draw will be welcome for new Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy, whose side go to Port Vale in League One on Saturday, 9 August.

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Cardiff City will take on Arsenal Under-21s in the 2025-26 EFL Trophy.

The Bluebirds were drawn alongside Newport County and Exeter City in Southern Group A of the competition on Wednesday.

Sixteen invited under-21 teams from Premier League clubs were added to the groups on Thursday, with the young Gunners now in alongside Cardiff.

The competition will begin in September, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the knockout stages.

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Cardiff City will kick-off their League One campaign against Peterborough United at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 2 August.

The Bluebirds are preparing for their first season in the third tier of English football in 22 years after being relegated from the Championship.

Brian Barry-Murphy's team visit newly promoted Port Vale in their first League One away match on Saturday, 9 August.

Cardiff will host Exeter City on Boxing Day and then Stevenage four days later before a trip to Wycombe Wanderers on New Year's Day.

The Bluebirds will conclude their 2025-26 season at Mansfield Town on Saturday, 2 May.

• Follow this link for Cardiff City's full 2025-26 fixture list.

*Dates and kick-off times will be subject to change.

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Kieron Evans has joined National League side Eastleigh following his release by Cardiff City.

Evans, 23, played 39 games and scored three goals during a loan spell with League Two Newport County last season.

But having left Cardiff this summer, the midfielder has dropped down a division to sign for Eastleigh, who finished 13th in the fifth tier last season.

Eastleigh say they "fought off competition from EFL clubs" to land former Wales youth international Evans, who made 11 senior appearances for Cardiff after coming through the club's academy.

Image source, BBC Sport

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Cardiff City have a new head coach in Brian Barry-Murphy, while speculation continues about whether Gareth Bale could soon have a role at the club.

Bale is involved in a bid to buy the Bluebirds and is hopeful the potential deal will come off.

But what do Cardiff fans make of the suggestion that Real Madrid and Wales legend Bale may end up playing a part at his home-city club?

And how do you feel about the appointment of former Rochdale boss Barry-Murphy as successor to Omer Riza?

We want to know your views as Cardiff build towards their first League One season since 2003, following relegation from the Championship in May.

Let us know you think by clicking here.

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Cardiff City and Newport County will face each other in next season's EFL Trophy.

The Welsh sides, along with Exeter City, are in Southern Group A of the competition, which was won by Peterborough United last season.

The group's fourth team will be one of eight invited under-21 sides from Premier League clubs, which will be confirmed on Thursday, 26 June.