Bristol City's Championship rivals swoop to sign two ex-Robins stars in 24 hours including £2m lethal striker

Preparations for the new Championship season are well underway, with sides across the division making squad adjustments as they hope to make the 2025/26 season a memorable one.

Bristol City have made good early ground under new manager Gerhard Struber, with three early signings coming through the door - in the shape of Adam Randell, Joe Lumley and Emil Riis.

Striker Riis joins after scoring 41 goals in 172 games for Preston North End, while midfielder Randell arrives from relegated Plymouth, who he had been with since the age of 10. Lumley arrives for free from Southampton, having made a couple of Premier League appearances last season as their third choice goalkeeper.

After a strong sixth-place finish last campaign, the Robins will be hoping that their business in the remainder of the window allows them to get an early advantage over rivals in the play-off race come the autumn. Elsewhere in the division, a fellow Championship club have brought in two ex-Robins stars in their own attempts to strengthen for the new season.

Derby County bring in ex-Robins duo

Fresh from their dramatic escape from relegation under John Eustace, Derby County have also been making early moves in the transfer market as they look to consolidate as a Championship side next term. That includes signing two ex-Bristol City stars.

The Rams have brought in Andi Weimann from Eustace’s former club Blackburn Rovers, after the Austrian was reportedly offered a new contract at Ewood Park. The 33-year-old has spent 12 years playing in the second tier, scoring 51 goals in six years at the Robins after joining for around £2m from Derby in 2018. Weimann has therefore gone full circle to return to the Rams, for whom he scored nine goals in 88 games after signing in 2015.

Derby reported on the club website that Weimann has arrived on a one-year deal after leaving Blackburn as a free agent with the desire to reunite with former boss Eustace.

The Rams have also brought in ex-Bristol City goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell. The 36-year-old shot-stopper arrives from Blackpool and is likely to offer depth in the goalkeeping department. O’Donnell played at Ashton Gate between 2015-2017, making 32 appearances in a high point of a career spent mostly in the lower leagues. He now arrives at Pride Park, just hours after the signing of Weimann.

Ex-Bristol City star Andreas Weiman’s discusses time at Ashton Gate

Speaking with the Derby County website, Weimann spoke of his reasons for re-joining the club, while also stating the impact his time at Bristol City had on him as a player.

“There are a couple of factors [why I joined], to be honest,” said Weimann. “One is the gaffer. I loved working with him last year. I've obviously known him for a long time; I played with him at Watford when I was 19. Last year was the first time I worked with him [as a Head Coach]. I loved it, and working with his staff as well. I enjoyed working with them. As someone around the training ground or the squad and everyone else involved, it's brilliant. It was a big part of my coming here again and wanting to work with him for a bit longer.

“[My role is] similar to last season, I'm one of the more experienced players now. I'm nearly 34, so I've been around a long time, and I feel he likes what I can bring on the pitch, but just as much off the pitch. I'd like to say I'm a good lad around the place; I think he liked that last year.

“I've improved as a player, and with my confidence, from when I left here and signed for Bristol City. I started playing in my preferred position and I've done that for the last six or seven years. I've been scoring goals and been playing games in that position, and believe I'm a better player now than I was in my first spell here.”