Bristol City 2026/27 Championship Preview
Bristol City’s 2025/26 season was defined by turbulence both on and off the pitch. The Robins finished a flat 12th in the Championship with 62 points, well adrift of the play-off places after winning 17 of their 46 league games. Their league position only tells part of the story, however, with the campaign marred by the board’s controversial January decision to sell top scorer Anis Mehmeti and key centre-back Zak Vyner, both of whom had entered the final six months of their contracts.
That fire sale precipitated a dire run of form under Gerhard Struber, who was sacked in March after picking up just one win in nine. The extraordinary appointment of 78-year-old former England manager Roy Hodgson as interim boss – returning to the club 44 years after his first stint at Ashton Gate – steadied the ship for the final seven fixtures, before Michael Skubala was recruited on a three-year deal from League One champions Lincoln City.
A fresh start is very much the objective during the 2026/27 campaign, and Skubala has wasted no time reshaping the squad. Eight new faces have arrived through the door, headlined by £4m striker Lorent Tolaj from Plymouth Argyle, who bagged 17 league goals last term and has been handed the No. 9 shirt. Experienced winger Jed Wallace has joined on a free from West Brom, while Sam Tickle provides a significant goalkeeping upgrade after 158 appearances and 56 clean sheets at Wigan Athletic. Centre-back Lisav Eissat (£2.13m from Maccabi Haifa) and midfielder Sam Greenwood (£2m from Pogon Szczecin) add further depth.
The departures have been equally significant, with Sinclair Armstrong sold to Turkish club Goztepe for £2.16m, Ross McCrorie returning north to Rangers, and several experienced heads including Sam Morsy and Harry Cornick released. Replacing the goals of the departed will be crucial – Scott Twine (11 goals) was the only player to reach double figures in 2025/26 after Mehmeti’s mid-season exit – though the EFL’s most prolific free-kick taker, with 15 direct free-kick goals over the past five years, remains the creative heartbeat of the team.
Bristol City are 33/1 outsiders to win the Championship and 9/1 for promotion according to the bookies, but under a manager who knows how to get teams promoted, the Robins will be hoping to push into contention for the newly expanded six-team play-off picture.

Bristol City’s set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Emil Riis
- Free-kicks: Scott Twine
- Corners: Scott Twine
Bristol City FAQs
Where did Bristol City finish in the 2025/26 Championship season?
Bristol City finished 12th in the Championship in the 2025/26 campaign with 62 points, well off the pace of the top six.
Who is the Bristol City manager?
Michael Skubala is the current Bristol City manager, appointed in May 2026 on a three-year deal from Lincoln City, whom he led to the League One title. He is the club’s fourth manager in less than two years.
Who is the current Bristol City captain?
Jason Knight is the Bristol City captain. The Republic of Ireland international has held the armband since the 2024/25 season and is regarded as the heartbeat of the squad both on and off the pitch.

