Ex-Bristol City gem set to 'reveal new club next week' after deadline day transfer collapses

A former Bristol City midfielder saw a potential transfer deadline day move collapse after he reportedly “backed out” of talks with Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Josh Brownhill, who spent three-and-a-half years at Ashton Gate between 2016 and 2020, is a free agent following the end of his contract with Burnley and was reportedly set to sign for Wolves on Monday, but journalist Graeme Bailey now claims that the midfielder was “unconvinced by the vision and future” of the Midlands club.

Former Bristol City star to ‘reveal next club this week’

Bailey goes on to claim that the 29-year-old will “reveal his next club later this week” having turned down Wolves’ contract offer – and it’s widely expected that the former Robin will be moving to the Middle East.

Brownhill has reportedly been offered a lucrative £100,000-per-week deal by Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab and while it is not confirmed that he has accepted the offer, it appears to be the likely outcome with the Saudi Arabian transfer window remaining open. He also rejected a late approach from Championship side Leicester City, according to EFL Analysis, and it appears as though his career in England has reached a close.

Brownhill came through the youth ranks at Manchester United and Preston North End before he was signed by Bristol City ahead of the 2016/27 campaign. He eventually moved to Burnley in 2020 and was the 18-goal hero of their successful bid for promotion last season – but he chose to leave Turf Moor as a free agent this summer once his contract expired.

Quiet deadline day for Bristol City as Zak Vyner stays

It turned out to be a quiet transfer deadline day at Ashton Gate despite rumours linking the club with both incoming and outgoing transfers – with the most important decision coming when the Robins told rival clubs interested in defender Zak Vyner that the 28-year-old was not for sale at any price.

Wrexham and Birmingham City were both expected to make late offers for the home-grown defender but were told to look elsewhere after head coach Gerhard Struebr described Vyner as “the face of the club” and “super important.” Attention will not turn to attempts to tie Vyner down to a new contract, with his present deal set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 season.

Elsewhere, Adam Murphy, Jamie Knight-Lebel and Sam Bell all left the club on loan deals, while a proposed loan bid for Luton Town striker Jacob Brown collapsed after he failed a medical. With no new striker arriving on deadline day, Sinclair Armstrong remains at Bristol City despite speculation that would also head out on loan.

Bristol City’s squad will thus have a familiar feel when the Robins return to action after the impending international break – their next Championship fixture seems them travel to Hillsborough to take on a struggling Sheffield Wednesday side, a match which Struber will be hoping to earn three points from as his side looks to build on a promising start to the new season.