Ryan Wintle will leave Cardiff City when his current agreement expires this summer, bringing an end to a five-year stay at Cardiff City Stadium. The 28-year-old said the move was completely out of his control.

Wintle joined Cardiff in June 2021 as a free agent from Crewe Alexandra and went on to become one of the club’s most relied-on midfielders. In the 2024-25 campaign, he played 46 games and scored one goal as Cardiff secured an immediate return to the Championship after one season in League One. He was also voted the club’s player of the year, underlining how central he had become to the side.

In a farewell message, Wintle said he was “gutted” to be writing the post and described the decision as “completely out of my control.” He said he had loved his five years at the club, thanked teammates, coaches, staff and fans for their support, and added that it had been “an absolute pleasure” to represent Cardiff. He also said the city would always hold a massive place in his heart, especially because he started his family there.

Cardiff confirmed that Wintle will depart at the end of his current agreement this summer and said he leaves the club with its very best wishes for the future. The exit comes in the same week Perry Ng agreed a new contract to extend his stay at Cardiff City Stadium, leaving Joel Bagan as the remaining first-team player out of contract this summer.

For Cardiff, Wintle’s departure removes a senior figure who had earned the respect of supporters and teammates alike. For the player, it closes a spell that began with a free transfer and ended with a promotion season, a personal award and a public goodbye that made clear how much the club meant to him.