Callum O’Dowda has travelled a path increasingly well-trodden by signing for Cardiff City after his release by Bristol City, following Marlon Pack, Bobby Reid and Aden Flint, albeit the latter’s year in Middlesbrough in between.
But the increasing consistency of players moving along the M4 in recent years should really be widened to include Swansea City with Korey Smith, Liam Walsh and Jamie Paterson opting for that part of south Wales. Indeed, according to Wales Online’s Glen Williams, Swansea had made an offer to O’Dowda as well.
The Republic of Ireland international’s departure may have been greeted with glee by some sections of the fanbase, only enhanced by the decision of his next destination, but it also represents further severing of recent history as of the 2017/18 League Cup semi-final squad, Nathan Baker is the only senior player remaining at Ashton Gate (Tyreeq Bakinson, Zak Vyner, Antoine Semenyo, Max O’Leary and Taylor Moore were young prospects during that season).
With Paterson firmly ensconced as a Swan, after a fine debut campaign under Russell Martin in which he scored nine goals and added nine assists, the midfielder - always one for a dig - couldn’t resist a playful pop at his former teammate and now south Wales rival.
Taking to Instagram, alongside an image of O’Dowda with the Cardiff badge behind him, Paterson wrote, “happy for you. But we’re no longer friends” with a swimming emoji.
The latter, of course, is a nod to the now infamous story from 1988 of how Swansea fans once chased Cardiff supporters into the sea following a particularly spicy derby clash at the old Vetch Field. Something Paterson referenced as he celebrated with a breast-stroke motion following his strike in the south Wales derby last October.
There are parallels between the departures of Paterson and O'Dowda, with Nigel Pearson indicating in both instances that the decision to allow then to leave on frees being a sense that they had grown too comfortable as City players.
O’Dowda has become Cardiff’s fifth signing of a busy early summer period with manager Steve Morrison outlining how he tempted him to join the Bluebirds.
The 27-year-old also had offers from other Championship clubs, including Sheffield United, but staying in the south west was a major pull for him having made the move to Bristol from Oxford in 2016.
“It’s been a long pursuit. We made contact a while back, he had a lot of options and he chose us at the end of it, so it’s credit to all the hard work that everybody has put in,” said Morrison.
“He fits the bill in all departments. He brings that quality in the final third, and he’s a really good athlete. He can score goals, he can make goals, and we’ve just got to get the best out of him.
“I showed him the plan, explained how he would fit into that plan, and showed him what we want to do. We want players who want to be here and be part of it, and I’m really pleased to have him on board.”
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