Image source, Huw Evans agencyDefender Malachi Fagan-Walcott has left Cardiff City for a season-long loan at National League side York City.
The 22-year-old former Tottenham graduate spent the second half of 2023-24 on loan at Scottish club Dunfermline and made his Championship debut for the Bluebirds against Burnley in August.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyCardiff City are enduring their worst start to a league campaign in 35 years.
Beaten 2-0 by Middlesbrough at the weekend, the Bluebirds are yet to win in their opening four league games.
Currently bottom of the Championship table, Erol Bulut’s side have managed to pick up just one point in that run – their worst return since the start of the 1989-90 season.
Cardiff were in the old Third Division that year, manager Frank Burrows resigning just two games into the campaign to be replaced by Len Ashurst.
Their only point came in a 2-2 draw against Brentford with Jimmy Gilligan on the scoresheet in front of less than 3,500 at Ninian Park.
They would eventually be relegated to the fourth tier, having had to wait nine games for their first win.
Cardiff also had to wait until nine fixtures into a season for their first win in 2018, although that was in the demands of the top tier after promotion under Neil Warnock.
Even then, the Bluebirds had already mustered two draws by this stage of the league season, with the current Cardiff crop having only one - the south Wales derby draw at Swansea.
In terms of second tier football, you have to go back 43 years to the start of the 1981-82 campaign for the last time Cardiff failed to pick up more than a point from their first four games, opening the season with a 2-2 draw at Oldham before winning 3-2 at Luton five fixtures in.
Cardiff – who are below Luton on goal difference with one goal scored and 10 conceded – will have to wait until after the international break if they are to show this is a blip when they head to new boys Derby County.
And, should they break their duck, manager Bulut – who has promised changes to his side after the winless start – can take comfort from the fact his side only had four points from their first five games last year but went on to push on towards the Championship play-offs before the end of the campaign.
Image source, Getty ImagesNeil Warnock has paid an emotional tribute to Sol Bamba following the 39-year-old's passing.
Warnock was a long-time admirer of the Ivory Coast international and made him his first signing as Cardiff City boss in October 2016.
Bamba was a pivotal figure under the Yorkshireman as Cardiff staved off relegation in his first season in south Wales before gaining promotion into the Premier League in 2017-18 - with Bamba featuring in all 46 of the Bluebirds' Championship matches that season.
Paying tribute to Bamba on X, Warnock - who also worked with the centre-back at Middlesbrough - wrote: "I can’t believe I won’t see that beaming smile again.
"I’m so happy that Sol was part of my life and we had such brilliant memories together.
"I’m heartbroken for Chloe and the family and all my thoughts are with them.
"Sol was a ray of sunshine and I’ll miss him so much."
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyCardiff City are hopeful that centre-back Jesper Daland's ankle injury is not serious.
Daland, who joined the Bluebirds from Cercle Brugge earlier this month, was forced off during Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough.
The 24-year-old Norwegian twice received treatment on the pitch before eventually being replaced by Dimitrios Goutas in the 43rd minute.
“I think it’s not a big injury," said Cardiff manager Erol Bulut.
"He twisted his ankle. The player stepped on his ankle."
With Championship football now taking a break for a period of international fixtures, Cardiff will not be in action again until they visit Derby County on Saturday, 14 September.
The loss to Middlesbrough was Cardiff's third from four league games this season, leaving them bottom of the table with only one point and one goal to their name.
Image source, Getty ImagesSouthampton head coach Russell Martin says he made up with Cardiff City's ground staff after being soaked by sprinklers during his visit to the home of the Bluebirds last season.
The former Swansea City boss was twice sprayed by the Cardiff City Stadium's water sprinklers as he applauded Saints supporters prior to his side's 2-1 loss to Erol Bulut's men in April.
However, ahead of Southampton's 5-3 Carabao Cup second-round win against the Bluebirds on Wednesday night, Martin met with Cardiff City's grounds manager Liam James who posted a picture of the pair on X, external.
"I had a good chat with them (Cardiff's ground staff) before the game, we had a laugh about them soaking me last season and the guy owned up to it, finally," Martin jokingly said.
"That's all I wanted, I just wanted him to own up and say that he meant it and that it wasn't a mistake.
"It's all good. They've done a good job with the pitch, they're nice guys."
Martin won all four of his south Wales derby matches as Swansea boss and became the first manager to oversee a league double between the sides during the 2021-22 season.
But the 38-year-old said he was grateful for the welcome he received from club staff at Cardiff.
"They (Cardiff's ground staff) know where my allegiance lies in south Wales," Martin added.
"I watched the derby with a lot of eagerness on Sunday. I was really happy with the way the first half went but obviously it was a draw in the end.
"I can't be too complimentary about the guys here because I love so many people a bit down the road.
"I got a really nice welcome this evening from a lot of people, I'm grateful for that."
'They were a little unlucky'
Ex-Cardiff forward Nathan Blake gives his verdict on the Bluebirds' 5-3 EFL Cup defeat to Southampton.
Image source, Huw Evans agencyRubin Colwill's omission from Craig Bellamy's first Wales squad means Aaron Ramsey is the only Cardiff City player involved.
However, Ramsey stays as captain as the new Wales era begins in the Nations League fixtures against Turkey in Cardiff on Friday, 6 September and in Montenegro three days later.
Attacking midfielder Colwill was a shock inclusion in Wales’ European Championship squad three years ago.
He scored his first senior Wales goal in March 2022 and went to the World Cup later that year, featuring as a substitute in the group game against England.
But the Cardiff City player switched to the under-21 squad in summer 2023 and also featured for Jones’ team earlier this year.
Bellamy's predecessor Rob Page recalled Colwill to his squad for June friendlies against Slovakia and Gibraltar. Colwill started in the 0-0 draw against the latter, but has not made the cut for Wales' forthcoming games.
It now seems likely Colwill will be back with Wales U21s for their junior Euros qualifier in Iceland on 10 September.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyOmer Riza says Cardiff City are happy with their squad but the assistant coach admits they could make further signings prior to Friday's transfer deadline (23:00 BST).
The Bluebirds have brought in Will Fish, Calum Chambers, Chris Willock, Alex Robertson, Wilfried Kanga, Anwar El Ghazi and Jesper Daland during the course of the summer window.
They could bring in an additional striker given the injuries to Isaak Davies and Kion Etete.
Youngsters Raheem Conte and Malachi Fagan-Walcott are among those who could be sent out on loan, while the Bluebirds are also willing to offload midfielder Ryan Wintle.
A decision is also due to be made on the future of Antigua and Barbuda defender Mahlon Romeo after he pleaded guilty to drink driving and abusing a police officer.
While Riza admits there could be more transfer activity at the club in the coming days, Erol Bulut's assistant says the Bluebirds' squad is in a good place as a result of their summer business.
"We've made some good signings," Riza said.
"Potentially there might be more [signings], and if not we're happy with the squad and we're ready to really kick on now."
Image source, FAWCardiff City Women will face FC Twente in their Champions League first qualifying round on 4 September (18:00 BST) at Sportpark Schreurserve in Enschede.
The game is part of a mini-tournament being hosted by Twente.
The winner will progress to a final against either Valur or ZFK Ljuboten, which will be played on 7 September at the same ground.
There will also be a third-place play-off between the two sides who lose in the opening games.
