Cardiff City have signed Sheyi Ojo as a free agent following his release by Liverpool and the winger should be one of four summer arrivals to start on the opening day against Norwich.
The Bluebirds see in the new Championship campaign at home to the Canaries on July 30, hoping to mount a promotion push. Steve Morison’s squad ended last season in just 18th-place, but have refreshed almost every area of the team and expect to strike further deals.
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Ojo is the 11th new addition to the Cardiff City Stadium ranks after the 25-year-old agreed a two-year contract. Liverpool had released the winger earlier this summer after letting his Anfield deal lapse. The free transfer marks his second Bluebirds spell after a previous loan.
Cardiff complete 11th transfer of summer so far with free Sheyi Ojo signing
Cardiff hired Ojo on loan from Liverpool during the 2020/21 campaign, in which he played 42 games across all competitions. The Hemel Hempstead native also offered five goals and seven assists, and he has never featured for a single club more often in his career thus far.
Neil Harris most often utilised Ojo as a conventional right-sided forward, with outings from left-wing and through the centre, too. But Morison is excited to see what the Reds product – who spent last term on loan at Millwall – will offer in strengthening the Bluebirds’ attack.
“Sheyi adds to that top end of the pitch and gives us some extra quality up there,” Morison said, via Wales online. “He’s got lots of power and pace, and I’m very excited to see him in action. He was very good when he was here on loan, but I think there’s more to come.”
Cardiff remain in the market for further transfers to pair with signing Ojo, ahead of hosting Norwich on the opening day. So, with that in mind, what could Morison’s line-up look like?
Ryan Allsop (GK): Cardiff sign Derby shot-stopper to replace Alex Smithies
Cardiff have signed Ryan Allsop to replace Alex Smithies in goal after his decision to leave Derby County as a free agent. The 30-year-old left Pride Park when his deal ended in June following nine clean sheets in 30 Championship games after joining the Rams last summer.
Morison will now task the Birmingham-born shot-stopper with replacing Smithies after he left Cardiff among eight first-team players they released. The 32-year-old had featured 29 times in the second-tier last term for five clean sheets, and he remains a free agent so far.
Mahlon Romeo (RWB): Cardiff sign Millwall man to replace POTY Cody Drameh
Mahlon Romeo has signed for Cardiff in a free transfer from Millwall as one of two right-backs Morison has added. The Bluebirds also acquired Vontae Daley-Campbell in a free transfer from Leicester City, having lost their 2021/22 Player of the Year, Cody Drameh.
Drameh excelled after switching to south Wales on loan from Leeds United during January, having made a substantial impact. He offered lots of energy to the position and started all 22 available Championship games. Morison also made no secret of his wish for him to stay.
Cedric Kipre (CB): Cardiff interested in West Brom ace to replace Aden Flint
Cardiff are interested in signing Cedric Kipre to add to their vast influx of new options this summer. Wales Online claim the Bluebirds are exploring a deal for the West Brom centre-back, with Steve Bruce open to allowing the 25-year-old to leave The Hawthorns on loan.
Curtis Nelson (CB): Steve Morison to utilise experience of Cardiff’s 2019 arrival
Morison will utilise the experience of Cardiff’s 2019 arrival, Curtis Nelson, to make up for the lack of experience he currently has in central defence. The 29-year-old moved to south Wales from Oxford United, and has so far amassed 115 appearances with the club in total.
Mark McGuinness (CB): 2021 capture from Arsenal to build on strong first term
Mark McGuinness will hope to build on his strong first season with Cardiff after signing for the Bluebirds last summer. The 21-year-old left his boyhood club, Arsenal, having failed to break into the first-team. But he enjoyed 35 games with Cardiff, including 34 in the league.
Joel Bagan (LWB): Cardiff product to keep Jamilu Collins out of the line-up
Joel Bagan will hope to keep Jamilu Collins out of the Cardiff line-up after Morison signed the 27-year-old from Paderborn. Bagan enjoyed 26 appearances in the last Championship season, and hit three goals and two assists after hitting excellent form earlier in the year.
Tom Sang (CM): Steve Morison confirms midfielder is back in Bluebirds fold
Morison has confirmed that Tom Sang is back in from the cold after freezing the midfielder out. “Tom wasn’t involved at the start of pre-season, but he has come in and I thought he has been excellent,” Morison shared, via Wales Online, after Sang impressed in friendlies.
Sang and Morison had discussed his best position following the climax of last term as the Bluebirds boss pushed for him to feature in central midfield. The 23-year-old has since had two productive games in the engine room against Cambridge United and Newport County.
Joe Ralls (CM): Championship veteran to steady the ship without Will Vaulks
Joe Ralls will steady the midfield ship at Cardiff following Will Vaulks sealing a free transfer to Sheffield Wednesday. Vaulks had played 36 Championship games for the Bluebirds last season, while Ralls played 29 games for six assists to reach 296 career second-tier outings.
Sheyi Ojo (CAM): Cardiff made former Liverpool dynamo their 11th signing
Cardiff have made Ojo their 11th signing of the summer with the former Liverpool winger’s free transfer. He could now hold a shadow-striker role on the opening day against Norwich as Morison strives to exploit the former England U21 dynamo’s attacking threat next term.
Mark Harris (ST): Steve Morison to push striker to build on strong breakthrough
Morison will push Mark Harris to build on his strong breakthrough last season if Cardiff are unable to sign the striker he wants, per Wales Online. The 23-year-old made 34 of his total 52 Championship outings so far in 2021/22, plus 17 of 24 starts, for three of six total goals.
Max Watters (ST): Forward to fulfil Cardiff expectations after James Collins exit
Cardiff believe strongly in Max Watters’ potential, as Wales Online report the Bluebirds are confident the 23-year-old can be a solid Championship forward. Club chiefs also believe he has the ability to show his attacking threat next season with a change in the team’s style.
Morison will strive to play with the ball on the ground more often, and get it into Watters’ feet. That could be crucial in the wake of James Collins joining Derby for free, despite the 31-year-old having a year remaining on his contract and gaining interest from Portsmouth.
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