Bristol City are offloading midfielder Matty James, the retained list has been released

Bristol City midfielder Matty James has left the club but contract negotiations continue with Joe Williams as the Robins announce the players they are keeping next season.

Veteran midfielder James joins Andy King and Andreas Weimann on the list of players released from Ashton Gate at the end of their contracts. Joe Williams’ contract also expires at the end of the month, but the club say they are still in talks with him to sign a new contract to continue playing for Bristol City.

Nine young prospects have also joined the list of players released by Bristol City, including defender Duncan Idehen and goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards, while the club confirmed that loanees Scott Twine and Dire Mabude have returned to their clubs mother.

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Bristol City have paid tribute to Matty James, who won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016 and turns 33 in July. James made 115 appearances for City after signing for the club in 2021, scoring four times. He joins Leicester’s Andy King, who announced his retirement last week, and Andi Weimann, who left in January to see out the final six months of his Bristol City contract on loan at West Brom.

Weimann’s name will now be added to the club’s record goalscoring wall at Ashton Gate – he scored 51 goals for City in 216 appearances after joining in 2018.

“The players who are leaving have all been fantastic servants to this club,” manager Liam Manning said. “They are all top professionals and have made their mark at Bristol City. I wish them all the best for their future,” he added.