Contract situation of every senior AFC Bournemouth player

Although very few players see them through to their conclusion, contracts are a cornerstone of the transfer market, influencing clubs’ plans and the value of footballers.

As Cherries announced their retained list earlier today, we have taken a look at the contract situation of senior players at the club.

2023

Jordan Zemura’s impending departure has been well-publicised, with the Zimbabwe international set to join Serie A outfit Udinese when his contract expires at the end of June.

Despite Cherries giving the full-back a chance to return to the professional ranks and an opportunity in the Premier League, it will be Zemura’s first club Charlton Athletic that will benefit the most from his move to Italy due to FIFA’s solidary payment system.

Fan favourite Jefferson Lerma is another who will not be at Vitality Stadium next season.

The club have already confirmed the Colombian’s departure, with a deal agreed in advance with Crystal Palace.

However, as domestic clubs cannot officially agree a pre-contract with an England-based player until two weeks after the end of the season, there has been no official announcement of his arrival at Selhurst Park.

Cherries allowed the also departing Jack Stacey the opportunity to seal his move before the transfer window had opened, with the right-back agreeing a pre-contract with Championship outfit Norwich City.

Stalwart Junior Stanislas' nine-year association with the club will come to an end this summer.

Blighted by injury over the past two years, it is unclear whether the 33-year-old will look for another club or decide to retire.

Youngsters Christian Saydee and Nathan Moriah-Welsh, who spent the season on loan at Shrewsbury and Newport County respectively, have had their contracts extended by a further year after the club exercised clauses in their deals.

Players currently on loan

Cherries retain an option to convert Mati Vina’s loan to a permanent transfer, although they hope to negotiate a better deal with his parent club, Roma.

There is no such provision in Jack Stephens’ loan move from neighbours Southampton. Cherries resisted Saints’ attempt to recall him midway through the season, indicating that they will pursue a permanent deal this summer.

Stephens is entering the final year of his deal at St Mary’s, strengthening Cherries’ position in negotiations.

Hamed Traore has already been signed as a full-time Cherry following a temporary move of his own from Sassuolo, the Ivorian now on a contract running until June 2028.

2024

Veteran back-up goalie Darren Randolph signed an 18-month contract on his arrival from West Ham in January, whilst fellow former Hammer Ryan Fredericks is into year two of his deal after joining last summer.

Stalwart Adam Smith was handed a one-year extension last August, taking him until the summer of 2024.

An arrival from Scottish giants Celtic in August 2021, Ryan Christie also enters the last year of his deal this season, the same applying to fellow deadline day signing Jamal Lowe, the attacker ending the last campaign on loan at QPR in the Championship.

When Danish international Philip Billing arrived from Huddersfield Town in 2019, the only reference to his contract was that it was a ‘long-term’ deal. However, reports suggest that the former Terrier’s current deal expires at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

It is a similar story with Lloyd Kelly, another 2019 summer arrival that was announced only as signing a ‘long-term’ contract when joining from Bristol City.

With it being four years since the pair arrived on the south coast, it appears likely that both Billing and Kelly will enter the final season of their contracts this summer.

Finishing the 2022/23 season on loan at Stoke City, Ben Pearson is another midfielder entering the last 12 months of his current contract, alongside Emi Marcondes.

Young full-back Ben Greenwood recently signed a new deal that will at least keep him at Cherries until the end of next season.

His fellow academy graduate Will Dennis also signed an extension prior to joining Slough Town on loan mid-way through last season, also taking him to the summer of 2024.

2025

There was a host of contract extensions issued in the first months of the 2022/23 campaign.

Chris Mepham went from an outcast in the Championship to a reliable performer in the Premier League, earning the Welshman international an extension until the summer of 2025.

International teammate Kieffer Moore’s contract signed in January 2022 expires at the same time, whilst Lewis Cook’s extended deal also runs out in two years' time.

Prior to initially going out on loan to Stoke last term, Gavin Kilkenny’s contract was also stretched to cover the 2024/25 campaign.

A deadline day signing in January 2022, Sirki Dembele signed a three-and-a-half year contract that will expire in June 2025.

2026

Club captain Neto signed two deals during the 2022/23 season – the initial contract covering last campaign, before a three-year extension that will take the Brazil international to the summer of 2026.

Another free transfer last summer, Joe Rothwell, arrived on a four-year deal, whilst contract extensions for Dominic Solanke and David Brooks during the previous season tied them down until the end of 2025/26.

In Brooks’ case, there appears to be the provision to extend the contract further, with the club describing the length of the deal as running until at least the summer of 2026.

Marcos Senesi signed a four-year contract upon his arrival from Feyenoord, fellow centre-back James Hill also agreeing a deal until 2026 when he joined from Fleetwood Town six-months prior.

2027 & 2028

Mark Travers and Jaidon Anthony’s contract extensions last season will take them through to the end of the 2026/27 season.

Marcus Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo are also committed to Cherries until the summer of 2027.

Semenyo was joined in January by Dango Ouattara and Illia Zabarnyi, the two tied down until the summer of 2028, highlighting the potential Cherries see in the pair.