Jay Dasilva has been released by Bristol City after the club were unable to negotiate a new deal with the former Chelsea full-back, ending his five-year stay at Ashton Gate on loan and as a permanent player.
Dasilva was the standout name on City's released list published on Monday afternoon with the 25-year-old to depart the club next month when his deal expires along with Taylor Moore, James Morton and Nathan Baker, who retired earlier in the season due to a series of concussions but with the Robins paying the remainder of his agreement.
Outside of the senior squad, goalkeeper Will Buse, forward Prince Henry, midfielders Josh Owers and Joe Porton and defender James Taylor are also being released from within the Under-21 set-up.
City have confirmed they remain in negotiations with Tomas Kalas over extending his contract and midfielder Andy King, with Nigel Pearson eager to keep the veteran as player/coach.
City also surprisingly note that a contract has been offered to midfielder Han-Noah Massengo who was widely expected to be leaving this summer on a free transfer having spent the last six months on loan at Auxerre. However, that could also represent a device to ensure the Robins receive compensation for the France Under-21 international should he move on this summer.
Dasilva's exit is likely to attract interest from fellow Championship sides with Coventry City close to completing a deal for the full-back in January only for the move to collapse as the Robins were unable to secure a replacement. His departure also opens up a squad place for Joe Bryan to fill with City closing in on the homecoming of the former academy graduate as his contract at Premier League Fulham expires.
Dasilva spent a season on loan at City during the 2018/19 season, effectively as Bryan's replacement after he moved to west London, before completing a permanent switch for an undisclosed fee. Although he's been unable to reach the heights of his first season in red, in-part due to a persistent shin injury during his first two campaigns, and despite initial doubts from Pearson over his suitability in his system, Dasilva has proven to be a regular and reliable contributor.
He leaves City with 144 appearances for the club, including 38 this season, and while Pearson would have liked to retain him, ultimately the lucrative contract he signed four years ago and with the Robins dramatically reducing their wage ceiling, a compromise couldn't be reached over extending his terms.
Moore's last appearance for the club was on August 10 and he's spent the last two seasons on loan at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership and playing under Steve Cotterill's Shrewsbury Town in League One, who are understood to have made the 26-year-old an offer but he has interest elsewhere in the division and abroad.
Bristolian Morton was once among the brightest prospects in the academy, and made his debut in the League Cup under Dean Holden but after failed moves away from the club to MK Dons and Notts County, persistent injury issues have kept the 24-year-old at the HPC without being able to play.
Buse had spent the season as part of the Yeovil Town squad that was relegated from the National League, Henry has been on loan Weston-super-mare and Bromsgrove, while Taylor was with Cheltenham Town at the start of the campaign without being able to make an impression.
Owers, son of former City midfielder and now BBC Radio Bristol pundit Gary, was a star of the Under-21 side last season but has been unable to make the first-team breakthrough like a number of his teammates and has subsequently fallen down the pecking order.
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