Robbie Cundy is on the verge of joining recently-relegated Barnsley as he undergoes a medical ahead of a three-year deal, Bristol Live understands.
The centre-back has turned down the Robins' contract offer, which expires at the end of this month despite breaking through into the first-team towards the second half of last season.
Bristol City had a deal on the table before the end of last campaign following his impressive run of form after being forced to wait nearly three years to make his Robins full debut in the 1-0 victory away at Blackburn in March.
The 25-year-old then went on to make 10 league starts on the right side of a defensive three in replacement of Tomas Kalas who had a number of issues towards the end of the season including a groin injury that kept him sidelined.
Nigel Pearson's signing of defender Kal Naismith only added to the competition for spots in defence and Cundy's decision to move on is likely to have come down to playing assurances.
City have 11 central defenders at their disposal as it stands in Timm Klose, Naismith, Rob Atkinson, Kalas, Nathan Baker, Zak Vyner, Taylor Moore, Cam Pring, Ryley Towler and Duncan Idehen. Although that number will decrease over the full with certain players set to leave permanently while Towler and/or Idehen could head for loan moves.
Cundy would likely have been the fourth or fifth choice for the upcoming season and a switch to Barnsley in League One will give him the opportunity to feature regularly during an important stage in his career.
At the age of 25, Cundy will feel he needs regular first-team football having had to bide his time and remain patient to get his opportunity at City. He arrived at the club from Bath City in 2019 and had four loan spells with Exeter, Torquay, Cambridge and Gillingham.
Nobody could begrudge Cundy's decision to make the move having endured nine different loan spells throughout his career across Non-League, League Two and League One. He also suffered a serious knee injury - fracturing the cartilage in his left knee during his last loan spell with Gillingham that sidelined him for around seven months.
Cundy didn't report for the first day pre-season training on Monday fuelling the speculation that he won't remain a City player beyond next month. In comparison, Andy King, another player who has yet to sign an extension, was in attendance at the High Performance Centre.
New Barnsley manager Micheal Duff, who was appointed last week, is looking to waste little time in improving his squad. Duff was a fan of Cundy's while he was playing at Bath and watched him in action at the club's Twerton Park ground.
The Tykes are one of the favourites for promotion following their relegation last season. He would have also played against Duff's Cheltenham side while on loan with Cambridge.
Cundy is set to be the third notable departure from the club after Callum O'Dowda joined Cardiff City on a free transfer. Kasey Palmer is also expected to complete his move to Coventry within the next 48 hours.
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