Popular Sunderland loanee now a free agent as Bristol City confirm retained list

Bailey Wright is now a free agent after Bristol City confirmed his release.
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Wright joined Sunderland in January and made a big impression despite making just five appearances before suffering a serious knee injury.

The Black Cats kept a clean sheet in four of those games.

Reacting to confirmation of his Ashton Gate departure, where he is highly thought of after his three years of service, Wright said: “It’s been an honour to play at Bristol City and I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy some good times with some great people.

Former Sunderland loanee Bailey WrightFormer Sunderland loanee Bailey Wright
Former Sunderland loanee Bailey Wright
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“It’s always emotional when you leave a club but I want to thank everyone – players, staff and fans, who’ve been brilliant.

“I want to wish the club all the best for the remainder of the season. It’s been a pleasure to see the club’s ambition grow and grow and I am excited for the club’s future and also my own.”

Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson said: “We’ve all been honoured to have such a great individual as well as a quality footballer at Bristol City. He has been a good influence and a role model and I cannot speak highly enough of him. We wish him all the best in his future career.”

Speaking shortly after his injury in February, Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson said he had ‘without a doubt’ been brought in with the view to potentially securing a longer term deal this summer.

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Asked himself about his future after his debut against Tranmere Rovers, Wright said he hoped to earn a longer term deal.

“I've come here to be part of a successful group and I think there's something really good happening here,” he said.

“I'm enjoying myself and I want to get back to my best, and to do that I need to be winning games of football and making sure this team is successful. I'll just take it from there.”

It’s not yet clear what impact the failure to win promotion from League One, and the current COVID-19 crisis, means for both parties.

Having released Alim Ozturk and with Tom Flanagan’s future still uncertain, Parkinson currently has just one senior centre-back under contract.