Coventry City manager Mark Robins is delighted to have finally got his man as the Sky Blues have secured the signing of former Bristol City full-back Jay Dasilva on a four-year contract.
Coventry came close to signing Dasilva in January but the move collapsed as the Robins were unable to complete a deal for AFC Wimbledon’s Jack Currie. However, with the 25-year-old rejecting a new contract at Ashton Gate, Coventry were able to pick him up on a free transfer with the move confirmed just three days after their defeat in the Championship play-off final and just a few hours after they published their retained list.
The move to the Midlands will reunite Dasilva with close friend and former City teammate Kasey Palmer plus Robins’ No2 Adi Viveash who was his coach during his time in the Chelsea academy.
“We are delighted to announce Jay as our first signing of the 2023/24 season,” Coventry manager Robins said. “We have monitored Jay for a while now and are delighted that, despite interest from elsewhere, he has decided to join Coventry City.
“He is dynamic, attack-minded wing back with great technical ability, who will add further quality and pace to our squad. We look forward to working with him.”
Dasilva made 144 appearances for City over five seasons as a loan and permanent player after joining from Chelsea, including 38 in his final campaign for the club. However, such were the lucrative terms of his contract initially signed in 2019, City’s desire to keep their wage ceiling at a more manageable level meant they had to offer him a significantly reduced salary. A figure that Dasilva, well aware of Coventry’s and other interest across the Championship, was always likely to reject.
Under Robins, the Sky Blues have risen from League Two to become a force in the Championship, finishing fifth this season before losing to Luton Town on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley.
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