Coventry City’s summer transfer window has now concluded, with four new players joining the football club. This has resulted in several departures, including a key player departing the club. 

Despite a very low net-spend, the Skyblues were put in a very unusual position with a lot of the transfer and playing budget, being spent on installing new hybrid pitches at the training ground.

Alongside this, there was also the issue with the pitch at the CBS Arena that needed sorting, which caused a loss in earnings and as a result, forced the club to hold back money to make up for losses. 

Elsewhere, with clubs still recovering from the financial affects of Covid-19 and the rise in the cost of living, for a club like Coventry it was always going to be an uphill battle this season. 

Here is the full review of Coventry's summer transfer window.

  • Retained list 2021/22

Following the conclusion of the 2021/22 season, four players were released by the club, as well as four keeping their contracts at the club. Two loanees also returned to their parent clubs. 

Loanees Ian Maatsen and Jake Clarke-Salter both returned to Chelsea after their loan spells came to an end.

Since the window opened, Maatsen has been loaned out again, this time joining Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.

Meanwhile, Clarke-Salter was released by the Blues in the summer and turned down Coventry’s offer of a permanent deal, in favour of a move to QPR. 

In terms of players that stayed, four individuals had their one-year options triggered. Three of those were part of the club's U21s side.

These were; Blaine Rowe, Jay McGrath and Aidan Finnegan.

Rowe has returned to training after suffering a serious knee injury in February whilst on loan at Ayr United.

Finnegan has started featuring for the U21s this season after being a main figure for the U18s last season, whilst McGrath has stepped up to the plate and has been made captain of the U21s already.

Last to keep their place was academy graduate Jordan Shipley.

In terms of players being released, four players left the club following the expiry of their contracts.

From the U21s, youngster Aaron Evans-Harriott was let go and is yet to find a new club, whilst U21s captain Jonny Ngandu was released and has since joined Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical.

Centre back Josh Pask was let go following a stint at Newport County and has since joined Welsh side The New Saints.

Finally, fan favourite Jodi Jones decided to leave the club after a six year spell and he has since joined League One side Oxford United. 

  • Departures

The first player to make a permanent departure, following the opening of the transfer was Jordan Shipley.

The 24-year-old had been at the club since he was seven years old, but after seventeen years, he informed the club that he wanted to leave, following a bid from Shrewsbury Town. 

U21s defender Declan Drysdale was next to depart, joining League Two side Newport for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £60,000.

Full back Julien Dacosta completed a season-long-loan move to League One side Shrewsbury Town, following in the footsteps of Shipley. 
 

There were only two other departures for the Skyblues throughout the transfer window.

The first was the club's big departure which saw long-serving defender Dominic Hyam completed a permanent transfer to league rivals Blackburn Rovers.

The transfer was believed to be around £1,800,000 initially, rising to £3,000,000.

Although it is definitely a blow, one player was always going to be sold by the club this summer and fortunately it wasn’t one of the big four.

The final departure was on deadline day, which saw U21s forward Danny Cashman join Walsall on a season-long-loan after a promising start to the season. 

  • Signings 

Throughout the summer window, Coventry made four first team signings as well as two U21s arrivals.

Starting with the u21s, Wigan Athletic forward Tom Costello was first through the door, signing a two-year deal, whilst Tottenham full-back Dermi Lusala also arrived, both on free transfers. 

Coventry's first player to join the first team signing was Bristol City midfielder Kasey Palmer who arrived for a small, undisclosed fee.

This fee was estimated to be around £250,000 with a sell-on clause.

The 25-year-old has been swept aside under Nigel Pearson and now has the opportunity to relaunch his career under former academy coach Adi Viveash. 

Coventry were then blessed with two loan signings in a matter of days, both of which were centre backs on loan from Premier League clubs.

The first of those, was Manchester City U21s defender Callum Doyle on a season-long-loan. Doyle joins off the back of an excellent few months, winning League One promotion with Sunderland before scoring a vital goal in the final of the U19s European Championships for England as they won the tournament.

This was followed by long-term target Jonathan Panzo joining the Skyblues on a season-long loan from Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest.  

In what turned out to be the final signing of the summer, Crystal Palace youngster Tayo Adaramola arrived at the club on a season-long-loan deal.

The 18-year-old links up with Mark Robins' side in his first loan spell since turning pro and is expected to deliver big things in the club's quest to try and replicate last season's finish. 

  • Why should fans be happy with the transfer window?

The summer window has been more successful than a lot of Coventry City fans claim it has been.

Firstly, the club have replaced Maatsen with another young, hungry player in Adaramola, who will also provide competition for Jake Bidwell, who has started strongly himself.  

The club had to replace Clarke-Salter and they have done with the arrivals of Doyle and Panzo.

Attacking midfield was the one position that Coventry really lacked in, and for the first time since Callum O'Hare's permanent arrival in 2020, a long-term player has been brought in. 

Palmer has plenty of Championship experience which can only be a good thing for the club over the course of the season. 

If you had asked a Coventry fan if they believed all four of their big assets would still be at the club after the window shut, they'd have called you a liar.

However, credit where credit is due, all four of Ben Sheaf, Gustavo Hamer, O'Hare and Viktor Gyokeres are still permanent members of the Skyblues' squad.

Everyone except Sheaf were the subject of either bids or transfer enquiries but City remained firm and stuck to their price tags. 

  • Should Coventry fans be worried?

In short, no. Coventry's squad on paper is stronger than it was last season.

The only question mark is Adaramola who is yet to kick off his league season for the club, but has played for the U21s in an attempt to rebuild his fitness for Robins' side.

The club have lost the only centre back who was contracted beyond this season in Hyam and that is a blow.

However, there are better alternatives on the market, especially free agents with the likes of Michael Hector available to come in. 

Coventry's start to the season has been disappointing, with no wins in any of their four games whilst suffering a heavy defeat in the Carabao Cup.

The season has also been stop-start for the club due to the playing surface issues at the CBS Arena, which would have negatively affected any side.

Despite that, the belief, team spirit and determination from the players and coaches is still alive and it needs to be matched by the fans who can get behind the club.

The lack of a deadline day signing did worry many fans, but it is a marathon, not a sprint. 

Ideally, Coventry would have liked to get additional players in, after having a loan move for AFC Bournemouth defender James Hill rejected last minute.

Also, high earners like Tyler Walker and Todd Kane remain on the wage bill but are likely to be sold or released in January as they enter the final few months of their deals. 

Coventry's squad is strong and should not be in a relegation battle.

The team needs their passionate fans to stick behind them and push them back up the Championship table.

It is time for fans to push the negativity aside, unite, and support Robins and his staff and players once again.