[themaclad]

Japanese forward Yu Hirakawa has signed a permanent deal with Bristol City.

The 24-year-old joined the Championship side on a season-long loan in July from J-League side Machida Zelvia and has scored two goals in 29 appearances.

Hirakawa helped Japan reach the quarter-finals at last summer's Olympic Games but has yet to win a full cap for his country.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win at Middlesbrough in October before also netting in the 3-1 win at Preston North End the following month.

The Robins have not disclosed if a fee has been paid for Hirakawa, who has agreed a deal which will run until the summer of 2028.

"Yu has been brilliant for us and he's only going to improve," head coach Liam Manning told the club website, external.

"He's adjusting well to the English game and we're really looking forward to seeing how he develops over the next few seasons."

[themaclad]

Bristol City are in talks over a new contract for experienced striker Nahki Wells.

The 34-year-old Bermuda forward's contract comes to an end this summer - five-and-a-half years after he joined the club in a £5m deal from Burnley.

Head coach Liam Manning previously said he wants Wells to extend his stay at Ashton Gate, but that "discussions" still had to happen.

Wells has scored 48 goals in 237 appearances for the Robins, who are also in talks with Lewis Thomas about a new deal.

But the club have decided to release goalkeeper Stefan Bajic, Ayman Benarous - who has not played for more than two years because of multiple knee injuries - and Kal Naismith who has been at Luton on loan since January, following the conclusion of their deals.

Youngsters Kai Churchley, Tim Ap Sion, Marley Rose, Romani Rowe and Callum Wood will also depart Ashton Gate.

[themaclad]

Bristol City defender Cameron Pring has signed a new contract with the club to stay until the summer of 2028.

The 27-year-old has made 146 appearances for the Robins since his debut in 2021, including 33 games this season.

Pring, who can play on the left side of defence or midfield, or at centre-back, joined the club in 2016 from Cheltenham's academy.

"After the ups of last season I have always wanted to stay longer and being from Bristol, I am delighted to sign for another three years," Pring said.

"After last season all the boys want to push on and go again."

Pring has had two periods out with hamstring injuries in 2025 and missed the final two matches of the campaign and the play-off first-leg defeat by Sheffield United, but played much of the second-leg as they were beaten 6-0 on aggregate.

"We are delighted to get this extension done. We know when Cam is fit and firing how much he offers us," technical director Brian Tinnion said.

"He worked really hard to get back for the play-offs and no doubt will keep progressing through next season."

[themaclad]

Bristol City full-back George Tanner has signed a new contract, committing him to the Championship side until the summer of 2028.

The 25-year-old has played 124 times for the Robins since joining from Carlisle United in 2021, scoring three goals.

The former Manchester United youngster featured 36 times in all competitions this season and started both legs of City's play-off semi-final loss to Sheffield United earlier this month.

Tanner follows team-mate Cameron Pring in agreeing a three-year deal at the club after his fellow defender penned a new deal on Thursday.

"A few years ago, we weren't so competitive. Since the gaffer has come in, we've improved so much as a team," Tanner told the club website.

"To make the play-offs has been massive for the club and it was great to see the reaction from the fans, I think it's really brought the club together, and that relationship with the fans has been amazing."

[themaclad]

Bristol City have signed midfielder Adam Randell from Plymouth Argyle on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old came through the Pilgrims' academy and made 173 appearances, scoring 10 goals, since his debut in 2018.

New Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley said earlier this week there was a "strong possibility" Plymouth-born Randell would leave, with the side relegated to League One at the end of last season.

Randell is Bristol City's first signing of the summer and his arrival comes 24 hours after the appointment of Gerhard Struber as their new head coach.

"I'm really looking to being part of the project and I'm over the moon to finally get it done," Randell said in a statement.

"The aspirations of the club very much align with mine. They're building something here that I want to be involved in."

Randell had a spell on loan at Torquay United in the National League in 2020-21 but has been a regular starter for Argyle in the past three campaigns.

He played in 39 out of Plymouth's 46 Championship games last season, scoring one goal.

Bristol City technical director Brian Tinnion said: "He's the exact profile of player we're looking for as we look to build on a successful campaign last season."

[themaclad]

Bristol City have confirmed that forward Nahki Wells is to leave this summer after five and a half years at the club.

Wells was out of contract and discussions had been ongoing over a new deal.

The 35-year-old made 237 appearances for the Robins after signing at the start of 2020 and scored 48 goals - including 10 this past season as the club finished in the Championship play-off places for the first time since 2008.

"We've created so many special memories that will live with me forever. You've taken me in as one of your own and made my family feel at home from the moment I joined the club," Wells said in a club statement.

"The moment on the pitch at Ashton Gate finding out we'd made the play-off places is something I will never forget, celebrating something we worked so hard to achieve with the fans who backed us the whole way."

Wells joined Bristol City from Burnley in January 2020 in a deal worth £5m and has been a regular presence in their front line under managers Lee Johnson, Dean Holden, Nigel Pearson and most recently Liam Manning.

Manning said in March - before he left to become Norwich head coach - he hoped Wells would extend his stay at the club after having a "fantastic season".

This season the Bermuda international was the only player in the squad over the age of 30 and he leaves four days after Gerhard Struber was appointed the new head coach.

"I'd like to thank Nahki for everything he has given to Bristol City in his time here," Bristol City chairman Jon Lansdown said.

"He has been an exceptional role model on and off the pitch, contributing significantly both to the first team and to the development of a number of our young players, and also helping the Robins Foundation to make a difference in our community."

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Centre-back Rob Atkinson has signed a new two-year contract extension with Bristol City until the summer of 2028.

The 26-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with fellow Championship side Portsmouth as he returned from long-term injury, with the club keen to sign him permanently.

Atkinson joined the Robins in 2021 from Oxford United and played 66 games before rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in February 2023.

He made 15 appearances for Pompey, scoring twice, as they secured survival in the division in May.

"I'm really happy to be home and to get the deal done," Atkinson said.

Bristol City technical director Brian Tinnion said that Atkinson's time at Portsmouth was a "massive success".

"He gained vital minutes while also putting in some really impressive performances," Tinnion said.

[themaclad]

Bristol City have signed forward Emil Riis Jakobsen on a three-year deal following his departure from Preston.

The 27-year-old scored 46 goals in 186 games for Preston during his five years at the club and was out of contract at Deepdale this summer.

He began his career in his home country Denmark for Superliga side Randers.

"It is no secret how in demand Emil was, and we are very pleased to have secured his signature," said technical director Brian Tinnion, external.

"He provides us with extra fire-power and is very experienced in the Championship and we cannot wait to see him in action."

The Robins have prioritised bringing in a forward this summer, with Riis now joining Sinclair Armstrong and Fally Mayulu - who spent most of last season on loan - in their front line following Nahki Wells' departure.

"It is a club which has the right ambitions for me, so I am very happy to be here and hopefully I can be a part of the dream to go to the next level," Riis said.

"I want to score goals and help the team in that way."

[themaclad]

Bristol City goalkeeper Lewis Thomas has signed a new one-year contract with the club, with the option of a further year.

The 27-year-old has yet to make an appearance for the Robins since joining in 2023.

Thomas began his career with Swansea and spent five years with Forest Green Rovers, where he worked alongside Bristol City goalkeeping coach Pat Mountain.

City start their Championship campaign away at Sheffield United on 9 August.