Squad for 2025-2026

[Sutekh]

Latest listing

Name - Contract Expiry

5 GOALKEEPERS

Tom NORCOTT - 2026
Joel PEREIRA - 2028
Matthew ROWLEY - 2026
Jack STEVENS - 2027
Josh WELLAND - 2027

6 RIGHT BACKS

Kelvin ABREFA - 2026
Ashqar AHMED - 2027
Boyd BEACROFT - 2026
Emmanuel OSHO - 2026
Tivonge RUSHESHA - 2026 - also defensive midfielder
Andy YIADOM - 2026 - also centre back

4 LEFT BACKS

John CLARKE - 2026
Andre GARCIA - 2026 - also attacking midfielder
Matty JACOB - 2026 - on loan from Hull City
John RYAN - 2026

6 CENTRE BACKS

Finley BURNS - 2026 - on loan from Manchester City
Jeriel DORSETT - 2026
Philip DUAH - 2026
Abraham KANU - 2026 - season loan to FGR
Paudie O’CONNOR - 2029
Michael STICKLAND - 2026 (+1 year option)

Sam HARRISON - 2026 (Sam is listed everywhere as just a Defender).

5 CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Joseph BAROUGH - 2026
Ben ELLIOTT - 2026
Luke HOWARD - 2026
Charlie SAVAGE - 2027
Lewis WING - 2028

3 DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

Liam FRASER - 2027
Jacob HAMMOND-CHAMBERS-BORGNIS - 2026
Shay SPENCER - 2026

7 ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

Carter-Blue BOWDERY - 2026
Mamadi CAMARA - 2026
Kelvin EHIBHATIOMHAN - 2027
Harvey KNIBBS - 2026
Daniel KYEREWAA - 2027
Jeremiah OKINE-PETERS - 2026
Tyler SACKEY - 2026 - also defensive midfielder

2 STRIKERS

Mark O’MAHONEY - 2026 - on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion
Basil TUMA - 2026

Considered as 1st team squad

[Linden Jones' Tash]

So the Kelvin E announcement was low key, not really pushed on all social platforms & lacking in details..

I hope that's not a sign of tension, we need the Kelvin E who bangs in screamers

[Hound]

So the Kelvin E announcement was low key, not really pushed on all social platforms & lacking in details..

I hope that's not a sign of tension, we need the Kelvin E who bangs in screamers

Think you’re very much reading a narrative that isn’t there…

Prob low key coz they told everyone he was signing weeks ago and has been playing all the friendlies

[WestYorksRoyal]

Some ITK is claiming Bowler will finally be announced today. Get it done and we have a good starting XI and bench options. If I'm getting greedy, get Devante Cole done next week and we really don't need much more. In fact, get those 2 done and it's just a case of replacing any outgoings if needed.

[windermereROYAL]

If Knibbs is going just get it done for goodness sake, why do we always have to wait till deadline day?

[Stranded]

If Knibbs is going just get it done for goodness sake, why do we always have to wait till deadline day?

Because incomings and outgoings aren't just down to the club and nothing focuses the mind like a looming deadline.

[WestYorksRoyal]

If we did sell Knibbs for decent money, it would underline how exceptional that window in 2023 was. All signed on frees, decent transfer fees for Smith, Knibbs and Bindon. Wing and Pereira cornerstone squad members of the new era. TBC how it plays out with Savage and Elliott but hopefully the club doesn't let them leave for free

[Stranded]

Article on Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan's deal has been updated - confirms it as a 2 year deal, which makes sense.

[Hound]

Article on Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan's deal has been updated - confirms it as a 2 year deal, which makes sense.

Yeah - thought it would have be 2+ really. 2 is fine, be nice if there is an option of a third

[Royalwaster]

Article on Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan's deal has been updated - confirms it as a 2 year deal, which makes sense.

At 21 he's still very young - so still a lot of potential for improvement ... !

[Linden Jones' Tash]

So the Kelvin E announcement was low key, not really pushed on all social platforms & lacking in details..

I hope that's not a sign of tension, we need the Kelvin E who bangs in screamers

Think you’re very much reading a narrative that isn’t there…

Prob low key coz they told everyone he was signing weeks ago and has been playing all the friendlies

Thanks - I agree I'm probably over thinking it....

I'm on the whatsapp group thingie and they posted Kanu to FG and that's still the latest news.....

Intrigued to see how these newbies fit into Noel's plan

[Snowflake Royal]

So the Kelvin E announcement was low key, not really pushed on all social platforms & lacking in details..

I hope that's not a sign of tension, we need the Kelvin E who bangs in screamers

Think you’re very much reading a narrative that isn’t there…

Prob low key coz they told everyone he was signing weeks ago and has been playing all the friendlies

Yeah. Bit of borrowing trouble for the sake of it.

[Snowflake Royal]

If Knibbs is going just get it done for goodness sake, why do we always have to wait till deadline day?

Because incomings and outgoings aren't just down to the club and nothing focuses the mind like a looming deadline.

And we're not looking to sell. We're playing hardball on offers.

If we want to maximise the deal, we won't do it by just signing immediately at the first offer so it happens.

And then, even if we do agree immediately, it's still not up to us how quickly it happens, its up to Knibbs negotiations with the club on contract offer.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Knibbs has the power really. If he tells the club he wants to try and move to the Championship next season, we'll likely sell as opposed to losing him on a free.

The alternative is to ask him to prove he deserves it on the pitch, but that makes more sense if you're going for promotion. This is a transitional season where promotion would be a bonus as opposed to a target. Maybe Knibbs is worth more in monetary terms than he is on the pitch.

[Hound]

We could keep hold of Knibbs but if his heart is elsewhere and we’ve a decent offer in then we should let it happen

He has been brilliant for us through some very difficult times and stuck with us when he could have bailed and never gave less than 100%. We should repay that loyalty

[Hound]

But more noise in the Twitter sewer about Devante C.

Be more than happy with this window of Bowler and him sign

If a good offer comes in for Knibbs then hopefully we’ve a back up in mind - assume we could spend a little of that Knibbs money if needed, or else a loan - maybe if that Doyle is still available

[Snowflake Royal]

But more noise in the Twitter sewer about Devante C.

Be more than happy with this window of Bowler and him sign

If a good offer comes in for Knibbs then hopefully we’ve a back up in mind - assume we could spend a little of that Knibbs money if needed, or else a loan - maybe if that Doyle is still available

Hot take: if Knibbs leaves we don't need a replacement.

Assuming Knibbs was sticking to his position in the midfield three, I would argue we're already covered.

DM: Wing, Fraser, Spencer
CM: Savage, Borgnis
AM: Elliott, Kyerewaa, Sackey

With Elliott and Wing both being able to step into the Savage role with Fraser or Kyerewaa stepping in for them if Savage is out and Borgnis isn't ready.

[Esteban]

Knibbs has the power really. If he tells the club he wants to try and move to the Championship next season, we'll likely sell as opposed to losing him on a free.

The alternative is to ask him to prove he deserves it on the pitch, but that makes more sense if you're going for promotion. This is a transitional season where promotion would be a bonus as opposed to a target. Maybe Knibbs is worth more in monetary terms than he is on the pitch.

Knibbs would be very hard to replace. His goals and assists are one thing, but his work off the ball is as good as I can remember probably since Jobi McAnuff. His performances have earned him the chance to play higher and you can't blame him for that. At least he's told us whilst we can still get a decent fee for him, rather than see out his contract.

[andrew1957]

I am not one to panic and there is still time, but we do desperately need at least one proven striker. It is rumoured that Cole is going to Luton, so doubt that will happen.

Last season we scored 68 league goals as follows:

Knibbs 14*
Smith 11*
Wing 9
Savage 5
Wareham 5*
Campbell 5*
Ehib 4
Camara 3
Own goals 3
Craig 2*
Bindon 2*
Elliott 2
Bodin 2 *
Mbengue 1 *

I have marked all those who have gone, plus assumed Knibbs also goes, in which case the current players only scored 23 of those goals (+ 3 own goals) last season.

I hope he comes good but in the pre season games O'Mahony has looked like a big step down from Wareham, let alone Smith. Tuma looked better in the one half of game he played, but then disappeared (injured or being loaned?) and is very inexperienced.

Think we ideally need two central strikers before deadline day, or scoring could be a struggle.

[Snowflake Royal]

I am not one to panic and there is still time, but we do desperately need at least one proven striker. It is rumoured that Cole is going to Luton, so doubt that will happen.

Last season we scored 68 league goals as follows:

Knibbs 14*
Smith 11*
Wing 9
Savage 5
Wareham 5*
Campbell 5*
Ehib 4
Camara 3
Own goals 3
Craig 2*
Bindon 2*
Elliott 2
Bodin 2 *
Mbengue 1 *

I have marked all those who have gone, plus assumed Knibbs also goes, in which case the current players only scored 23 of those goals (+ 3 own goals) last season.

I hope he comes good but in the pre season games O'Mahony has looked like a big step down from Wareham, let alone Smith. Tuma looked better in the one half of game he played, but then disappeared (injured or being loaned?) and is very inexperienced.

Think we ideally need two central strikers before deadline day, or scoring could be a struggle.

Kyerewaa scored 11 goals the last time he played much iirc.

O'Mahoney and Ehibhatiomahn should be targetting 10+. You'd expect Bowler to get more than 5. And he currently seems as likely to sign as Knibbs is to go.