Burns and Button Remain in Talks as Town Reveal Retained List
Monday, 15th Jun 2026 10:04

Town have announced their retained list with out-of-contract pair Wes Burns and David Button still in talks regarding new deals, options taken on Harry Clarke and Cameron Humphreys but Conor Townsend joining Conor Chaplin in being released.

Burns, the first signing of the Gamechanger era and a key player in all three promotions, admitted towards the end of the season that he didn’t know what his future held. Keeper Button joined Town as third-choice keeper last summer but is yet to make a senior appearance.

Townsend was with the Blues for two seasons, making seven starts and three sub appearances, but missed the whole of 2025/26 after suffering a ruptured ACL in the final pre-season friendly at Auxerre.

Chaplin’s exit was announced last month, while Ashley Young announced his retirement at the end of the season.

Clarke, who was on loan at Charlton in the second half of the season, and Humphreys, who spent the entire campaign at Huddersfield, were also both out of contract this summer but the club has exercised the one-year options in their deals.

However, both look set to depart this summer. We understand Oxford United are keen to sign the 22-year-old along with a number of other League One sides.

Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton Town), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United), Cieran Slicker (Barnet) and Sammie Szmodics (Derby County) return to the Blues following their loans along with Clarke and Humphreys.

As previously reported, U21s Luca Fletcher and Frankie Runham are joining on a permanent basis from July 1st having been on loan from Manchester City and Chelsea during 2025/26.

Options have been taken on Henry Gray, Tudor Mendel, George Barrett, Josh Lewis and Walker Shabazz-Edwards, while Leon Elliott, Jacob Mazionis, Nico Valentine and Woody Williamson have all signed extended contracts.

Ashton Boswell has been offered a new contract, while scholars Sidney Eldred and Darragh McCann, Northern Ireland U19 and U17 internationals respectively, have been offered professional deals.

Among the young players released are Northern Ireland U21 international forward Rio Oudnie-Morgan and Tyler Young, son of Ashley, who joined the club from Peterborough last summer.

Released
Conor Chaplin, Conor Townsend

Retired
Ashley Young

Loans expired
Iván Azón (Como), Jens Cajuste (Napoli), Dan Neil (Sunderland)

Permanent deals from 1st July
Chuba Akpom, Cédric Kipré

Option taken
Harry Clarke, Cameron Humphreys

In talks
Wes Burns, David Button

Back from loan

Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton Town), Harry Clarke (Charlton Athletic), Cameron Humphreys (Huddersfield Town), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United), Cieran Slicker (Barnet), Sammie Szmodics (Derby County).

First-team players under contract 2026/27
Chuba Akpom, Ali Al-Hamadi, Elkan Baggott, Harry Clarke, Jack Clarke, Leif Davis, Darnell Furlong, Jacob Greaves, George Hirst, Cameron Humphreys, Ben Johnson, Cédric Kipré, Azor Matusiwa, Kasey McAteer, Anis Mehmeti, Marcelino Núñez, Chiedozie Ogbene, Dara O’Shea, Alex Palmer, Jaden Philogene, Cieran Slicker, Sam Szmodics, Jack Taylor, Sindre Walle Egeli, Christian Walton.

Departing academy players
Afi Adebayo, Daniel Babb, Stevy Brouwers, Ryan Carr, William Fletcher, Fraser Heard, Usisya Longwe, Jackson Nsofor, Abube Onuchukwu, Lenny O’Sullivan, Rio Oudnie-Morgan, Will Unadike, Tyler Young.

Photo: Matchday Images

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ollie_smith2001 added 10:08 - Jun 15 Barbrook?
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Murphys_Law added 10:11 - Jun 15 Really hope that terms are agreed for Wes! We need his spirit in this squad.
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Broadbent23 added 10:19 - Jun 15 So good to have a retained list which keeps our promotion team intact who were not loanees. But we know the new manager may have ideas to change that. Good to see that Wes still has ongoing contract talks. So a difficult way forward to keep a team winning in a higher division yet trying to inject stronger players.
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jas0999 added 10:30 - Jun 15 No surprises here. Wishing Townsend all the very best. Suspect a number of those in the squad will be moved on this summer. It’s already high on numbers, and will need to be reduced to make way for the 10 or so new signings.
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ALF added 10:31 - Jun 15 Gerard Buabo?
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timkatieadamitfc added 10:45 - Jun 15 @Murphyslaw - We don’t just need his spirit, he’s currently our best right winger - comfortably!!
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PortmanTerrorist added 10:58 - Jun 15

Always struggled with the way we handled Humphreys. Kieran was great at so many things but the pathway for young players was definitely sacrificed along the way, and think Cam suffered from that as he literally never let us down and looked like he could kick on if given a run in the first team....and we def could have done with his dynamism in midfield at times last season.

Both Cam and Wes have earned the right to wait to see who the new Manager is and where they stand with whoever that is before making a decision. Would love them both to stay, but the Team and squad the new man wants will have to take priority. Really is the end of an Era....and what an Era it has been but onward and upward ! COYB

RetroBlue added 11:05 - Jun 15 So, if the retained list has now been released would this mean a new manager is close to being unveiled?
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flykickingbybgunn added 11:20 - Jun 15 Let us hope so. The new team are going to need all the time they can get.
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blues1 added 11:34 - Jun 15

Retroblue. Not necessarily. Bcse theres no doubt there'll be a number of those retained, who may well not be here come the start of the season. But bcse they've been retained we will be able to get a fee for those players. So more a tactical move I think, to give us the best opportunity to trade. Just how I see it personally. Wouldnt be surprised tho, if the new manager is here by the middle to end of this week, if all goes to plan.

Monkey_Blue added 11:45 - Jun 15 Some young players may go for no fee but because they are under contract we can insured on future sell on clauses if they develop well
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trevski_s added 12:04 - Jun 15 For those asking about the likes of Buabo and Fin, this is just the players that were classed as 1st team last season or those in the U21s, etc that are either departing or signed a new contract. The likes of Fin, Buabo, Boniface were technically classed as U21s last season but are still under a longer contract so they werent mentioned
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Bazza8564 added 12:05 - Jun 15

Can't help feeling that Harry and Cam have been extended in the hope we get a fee to be honest. Lots of the loaned out players will go out again, Al Hamadi, Ogbone, Szmodics and possibly Akpom, we will most likely not be able to be able to sell them because they will be on PL wages so it's going to be a juggling act. Expecting a busy few weeks, with Mark and Luke leading the way on recruitment I doubt it will wait for the new manager to be in place before we get started

trevski_s added 12:10 - Jun 15

Its a real shame about Townsend as he always looked a solid player and offered something different from Leif but im guessing the lengthy injury was a factor in him staying or not

Really hope we dont sell Cam. I can imagine its been hard for him as he always seems to come back just at the wrong time (league wise). I reckon we loan him out just one more season (he only turns 23 this year) but to a Championship side and then we start using him the following season (even if its from the bench to start)

Now this has been released I wonder if its a sign that the new manager will be imminent in the next couple of days? Either way looking forward to the new season COYB

Monkey_Blue added 12:38 - Jun 15

Regarding Townsend it’s a shame but the right decision from a football point of view. Our player options weren’t good enough last time so upgrades are needed. I’m sure he will find a decent championship club. A new manager may have different perceptions on individuals so I’m sure some of those that are fringe or have been out on loan may think they want the chance to impress a new boss. How realistic that is for the likes of Baggot, Humphreys, Clarke, Al-Hamadi et al is to be seen. Some or all may already be looking to get a move regardless. Until the new guy comes in I doubt any of these issues will be certain. For all we know we have interest in some of these players and the club intends to sell regardless but wants the best financial outcome.

WalkRules added 13:14 - Jun 15 Not one comment on here complaining about Cajuste, Azon and Neil needing to be purchased. Doesn't mean it wont happen when the window opens of course but still a telling response (or lack thereof)
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Ebantiass added 13:17 - Jun 15 There are seven in tha retained list i would let go and look for better replacements. With no manager yet and no strategic plans of whom they want in or out its going to be a little bit pressured. Lets hope MA and crew have someone already lined up waiting to soon be announced.
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tempzzzz added 13:29 - Jun 15 Boniface?
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RetroBlue added 13:46 - Jun 15 Blues1 .... thanks for that....much appreciated.
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tetchris added 14:17 - Jun 15

Don’t see the point in Button tbh. We have Slicker coming by back as third choice unless Palmer is going. We are also allegedly interested in Pope. How many goalies do we need ?

Burns is worth a new deal. I assume options have been take up on Humphrey’s and Clarke so we can get a fee for them. Al-Hamadi, Ogbene, and Szmodics must surely be up for sale as can’t see them getting into the first team squad.

I can see double digit new signings this summer so there needs to be plenty of outgoings to free up spaces in a 25 man squad

Linkboy13 added 15:05 - Jun 15

Unfortunately we have an abundance of players that lack the potential of ever becoming first team potential unless winning the u21s league is a priority. Burns is the only player i would keep on but he will be looking for at least a 3 year contract at his stage of career. Humphreys is a very talented footballer but probably lacks the physicality and pace to play at a high level. Some people on here seem to know better than coaching staff who work with players day in day out but they are entitled to their opinions. I almost all of the time go along with the decisions made by the powers that be.

Techrux added 17:28 - Jun 15 WalkRules you cannot seriously be under the illusion that a mangerless will make signings until the new boss is in. Ludicrous thought. Doesnt happen, will never happen.
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armchaircritic59 added 17:59 - Jun 15 I'm not privy to exactly how the retained list works, but something puzzles me, so maybe I'm missing something? Surely it's a manager who decides who he wants to keep and who he doesn't? Well, we currently don't have one, so how can a retained list be released? I await to be enlightened!
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