.Outgoing Bristol City defender Jay Dasilva has paid tribute to Bristol City fans after his departure from Ashton Gate was confirmed on Monday afternoon.
Dasilva was the highest-profile exit as the club published their released list at the end of the 2022/23 season with nine first-team and Under-21 players leaving when their contracts expire next month.
The 25-year-old was a marquee signing for the Robins when he joined from Chelsea in the summer of 2019 after a successful season on loan under Lee Johnson and has made 144 appearances over his five campaigns in red.
Dasilva and City were unable to renegotiate his contract as the club were only willing to offer significantly reduced terms on the lucrative agreement he signed four years ago before the pandemic and the subsequent impact that had on finances across the EFL.
With his silky play down the left-flank, both as a wing-back and defender, Dasilva has established a rapport with Robins fans - most notably with his signature song to the tune of Depeche Mode's ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ - as was reflected in his closing statement, broadcast on social media.
“To everyone at Bristol City,” Dasilva wrote. My time at the club has come to an end and I would like to thank everyone involved. The last four years have flown by but they will stay with me forever.
“Thank you to all my teammates, managers and staff along the way and, of course, thank you to all the fans. It’s been nothing but love from the start! I’ve loved every minute here and I will miss playing in red at Ashton Gate.
“I wish the club nothing but success for next season and the future. Thanks for everything.”
Dasilva had already said goodbye in a more visual sense after the final game of the 2022/23 season at QPR where he was thrust forward by his teammates to deliver a wave to the travelling support at Loftus Road.
He is likely to have offers across the Championship as he’s a proven performer at this level, with a wealth of experience who’s still not reached his physical peak and therefore his anticipated ceiling.
Coventry City were hopeful of concluding a deal for the 25-year-old in January, which would enable the Robins to write off the final six months of his contract but with City unable to complete a move for AFC Wimbledon’s Jack Currie as replacement, Dasilva stayed put.
With the Sky Blues engaged in the play-off final on Saturday at Wembley, and a place in the Premier League at stake, it remains to be seen whether Dasilva will remain a target of Mark Robins, whose No2 Adi Viveash is his former youth coach at Chelsea.
But his willingness to turn City down, with Nigel Pearson revealing an offer had been on the table since January, indicates Dasilva’s representatives believe he won’t be short of interest as the summer develops.
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