Long List Of Cambridge United Players Depart

Some of the U's most prolific players are leaving this summer, as the team narrowly retains League One status for the 2023/4 season.

The club have just released its 'retained' list, and the team will look rather different come August.  Along with Greg Taylor, nine other players leave the Abbey this summer including keeper Dimitar Mitov, striker Harvey Knibbs and fan favourite Joe Ironside.

Also departing the club are striker Sam Smith, Shilow Tracey, George Williams, Lloyd Jones and Ben Worman.

Ryan Bennett, Harrison Dunk, George Thomas and Fejiri Okenabirhie have all been offered new deals.

Liam O’Neil is the longest serving member of the squad to leave, having signed for the Club ahead of the 2016/17 season. Born nearby in Swavesey, O’Neil has made 167 appearances for the U’s and will forever be celebrated for scoring the opening goal in the promotion-decider against Grimsby Town on the final day of the 2020/21 season.

Joe Ironside leaves having made 145 appearances and scoring 35 goals since his move from Macclesfield in 2020, instantly becoming a fans favourite.

United’s top goal scorer for the past two seasons, Sam Smith, departs the Club after finding the net 43 times in 143 appearances. 

Head Coach Mark Bonner said, "This season’s list sees many players depart the Club who have made significant impacts over many years and who have contributed greatly to our successes in recent seasons, including this last one. I could talk endlessly on each of them, crediting them for everything from ability, performance, personality and character, but in short, we would not have achieved all that we have without them.

“As is often the case, football works in cycles and this is a sliding doors moment from one cycle to another. It has been clear to us for a large part of the season that it was inevitable we would see some players leaving despite many conversations around our desire for them to stay.

Further details on the outcomes of players who have been offered contracts will be released in due course.