Bristol City made four signings in the summer transfer window with mixed success. The Robins didn’t exchange a transfer fee for any of their arrivals and instead scoured the free agent market.
Mark Sykes was the first summer signing, moving on from Oxford United in League One in May. Sykes was signed with his best position unclear, but he ended up slotting in at right wing-back.
Centre-back Kal Naismith then followed, joining from league rivals Luton Town, who had reached the play-offs the season prior. It was a position that City needed to recruit in given their frailties at the back.
Kane Wilson then joined, moving on from Forest Green Rovers, having just won the League Two title. He won the Player of the Year award on his way to lifting the trophy and was highly sought after but City won the race.
Finishing off the business was French goalkeeper Stefan Bajic. Bajic joined from Pau, having been at Saint-Etienne at the start of the 2021/22 season. Bajic arrived with an injury and only made his debut in mid-November.
All signings came before the season opener against Hull City, which allowed them time to settle in. But what about the players that City didn’t land? There were several players that had reports of interest from Ashton Gate, but for whatever reason, the move didn’t take place. The main reason was usually that City did not make any major player sales and instead let their players leave on a free transfer, to some league rivals.
Here we take a look at what happened to the players that were linked with a move to City, but didn't move and what happened next.
13. David Bates
Centre-back David Bates ended up joining Belgian side K.V. Mechelen. | BELGA/AFP via Getty Images Photo: JASPER JACOBS/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)
14. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
The Sheffield Wednesday midfielder is out of contract but Nigel Pearson was dismissive of a report linking him. | Getty Images Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
15. Jean-Luc Dompe
Before the season had concluded, City had been linked with a move for Jean-Luc Dompe, a French winger who played in Belgium for Zulte Waregem. Reports in the Netherlands, more specifically Voetballkrant claimed that City and Norwich had held talks with the players’ representatives. Dompe signed a three-year deal with Hamburg SV, who play in the German second division in August. | Getty Images Photo: Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images
16. Jack Rudoni
A transfer report from The Sun claimed that City along with Huddersfield Town and Sunderland were interested in Jack Rudoni from AFC Wimbledon and all had bids rejected. Huddersfield eventually won the race. | Getty Images Photo: Tony Marshall/Getty Images