5 Cardiff City youngsters who can spearhead Brian Barry-Murphy's Bluebirds revolution | OneFootball

The top 5 Cardiff City youngsters Brian Barry-Murphy will play this season.

Cardiff City begin life in League One this season under new head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, and there is likely to be a huge turnover in playing staff at the club.

Indeed, nine players are to depart ahead of the expiration of their contracts at the end of this month in Anwar El Ghazi, Aaron Ramsey, Andy Rinomhota, Joe Ralls, Jamilu Collins, Yakou Meite, Dimitrios Goutas, Kieron Evans and Raheem Conte, and while Cardiff are under no immediate pressure to sanction sales, it's inevitable that further exits will be sealed throughout this summer's transfer window.

There is a hope, however, that relegation can work in Cardiff's favour and force a much-needed rebuild of the club on the pitch, led by the burgeoning crop of talent emerging from CF11 in recent times.

As several big-name players are set to depart the club at the end of their contracts or get sold to higher-placed teams, we take a look at which youngsters can thrive under the guidance of the new gaffer.

Luey Giles

Given that a lot of Cardiff’s problems last season came from a leaky defence, it seems astonishing that a young player with high potential, such as Giles, wasn’t given more of a chance to shine in the senior squad. Giles made his debut in the club’s 2-1 win over Southampton at the end of the 2023/24 season, and he got the assist for Cian Ashford’s memorable winner that day.

The 18-year-old is a born and bred Cardiff boy from the Ely area of the city. Unfortunately, his involvement during the 2024/25 season was restricted to cup appearances. As the club says farewell to senior full-back players Andy Rinohmota and Jamilu Collins, there now appears to be more of a pathway for a young full-back like Giles to make their mark.

Dylan Lawlor

The name Dylan Lawlor has become familiar to fans of Welsh youth football. The 19-year-old has represented the Welsh national team from under-16 to under-21 level, having captained the national side at under-16 and under-19 levels. The Caerphilly native broke into the Cardiff first team during the 2024/25 campaign. An impressive debut as a shock starter in the 2-0 loss to Aston Villa in the FA Cup 5th Round was followed by a second start in the final league game of the season, a 4-2 loss away to Norwich.

Many Cardiff fans have questioned why Lawlor wasn’t given more first-team opportunities in City’s doomed Championship season.

The club conceded 73 goals, with criticism aimed at the team’s back-line throughout the season. It is felt that this season could be the breakthrough year for Lawlor, who could develop well in League One under Barry-Murphy’s mentorship, as long as Cardiff can fend off the suitors.

Cian Ashford

Cardiff City academy product Ashford broke into the Bluebirds' first team at the back end of the 2023/24 season under the management of Erol Bulut. The Rhondda-born attacker made an immediate impact as he scored an injury-time winner in just his third appearance for the club in a 2-1 win at home against playoff hopefuls Southampton.

The 20-year-old became a regular starter under Riza in the 2024/25 season, scoring three goals in 31 appearances across all competitions.

As the club could potentially look to cash in on senior players Callum Robinson and Callum O’Dowda, Ashford’s importance to the team could become even more emphasised this season.

Joel Colwill

It might sound ludicrous to say, but a percentage of Cardiff supporters often refer to Joel Colwill as “the better Colwill” ahead of older brother Rubin, such is the high opinion held of the 20-year-old. As Cardiff part ways with some experienced midfielders in Joe Ralls and Aaron Ramsey, a gap opens up for the next generation of talent to come through the ranks. Colwill is one of the standout talents of that next generation.

Colwill won a mass of admirers during his loan spell with League Two club Cheltenham Town during the first half of the 2024/25 season, where he scored nine goals in 28 appearances.

He was then recalled by the club and loaned out to League One side Exeter City for the remainder of the campaign, where he made a further 18 appearances in all competitions. It seems inevitable that he will be a regular squad player for the Bluebirds this season.

Ronan Kpakio

Wales manager Craig Bellamy is a hard man to please at the best of times, but Cardiff prospect Kpakio has had the former Manchester City and Newcastle man waxing lyrical about his potential to BBC Sport. The 18-year-old has crossed the great divide, having been born in Swansea. However, he’s become instantly adopted by the Cardiff faithful after just six appearances in all competitions during the 2024/25 season.

There is no doubt that Kpakio’s number of appearances would have been higher had it not been for the ligament injury he suffered back in January of this year in the club’s 1-0 win away to Sheffield United in the FA Cup 3rd Round.

The right-back was called up to the Wales national team for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium after returning to fitness. He is seen by many Cardiff fans as a potential starting right back ahead of the potentially departing Perry Ng this season.