Latest news with #O'Dowda
Irish Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Robbie Keane brings Ireland international to Hungarian side Ferencvaros
Robbie Keane has made a shock swoop for Ireland star Callum O'Dowda as he prepares to steer Ferencvaros in their defence of the Hungarian title. Keane led the club to the championship last season and narrowly missed out on a double, as they lost on penalties in the final to Paksi FC. Ferencvaros confirmed the signing on their official website, stating that O'Dowda had 'been added to the 36-time champions' men's football team.' He is their seventh summer signing and it sees him leave Cardiff City, who were relegated last season to League One. Instead, he can now look forward to Champions League football, with Ferencvaros entering the second qualifying round later this month. There, they will face the winners of Noah of Armenia or Montenegran side Buducnost Podgorica. O'Dowda, capped 32 times, can play at left-back, midfield or on the left-wing. He previously played for Oxford United and Bristol City, before his July 2022 move to Cardiff. He is Keane's first Irish signing of his managerial career, which has also seen him take charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv. The pair played together briefly for Ireland, with O'Dowda's debut coming in May 2016, shortly before Keane hung up his international boots. They worked together again when Keane worked as a coach under Mick McCarthy in 2019.
RTÉ News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Callum O'Dowda links up with Robbie Keane as he signs for Ferencvaros
Republic of Ireland international Callum O'Dowda has signed for Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, where he links up with former Irish teammate Robbie Keane. The left back has signed for the Budapest club for undisclosed fee. The Welsh club confirmed the move on their website this afternoon. O'Dowda, who has earned 32 Republic of Ireland caps, has been at Cardiff City since 2022, playing 42 times in last season's Championship campaign. The season ended in disappointment for the Welsh club, Cardiff City slipping into League 1, with Corkman Brian Barry-Murphy taking over as manager ahead of the 2025-26 season. O'Dowda, however, is set to head for continent and a club under the direction of another Irish manager, with whom he worked during Mick McCarthy's second stint as Republic of Ireland manager in 2019. Keane assumed the reins at Ferencvaros in January, with the defending champions second in the domestic table. The Dubliner subsequently guided Ferencvaros to the Hungarian league title, their seventh in succession. It was Keane's second league title triumph in his short career as a manager, having previously guided Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Israeli Premier League title in 2023-24.
Wales Online
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Callum O'Dowda move confirmed as Cardiff City eye ex-Aston Villa midfielder
Callum O'Dowda move confirmed as Cardiff City eye ex-Aston Villa midfielder The latest Bluebirds news from Cardiff City Stadium Kyrie Pierre of Aston Villa celebrates (Image: Getty Images ) Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Friday, July 4. O'Dowda exit confirmed Callum O'Dowda's departure to Hungarian side Ferencvaros has been confirmed. The Republic of Ireland international has joined the Budapest side on a permanent deal. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. His departure represents the first exit of a contracted player this summer after nine senior players saw their contracts expire earlier this week. The 30-year-old signed a new contract with Cardiff earlier this year which should have taken him to 2028, however following relegation he has opted to head to the continent for a new challenge. The Hungarian side are managed by former Republic of Ireland and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane and are in the qualifying rounds for the Champions League. They won the Hungarian top flight last season. Article continues below O'Dowda signed under Steve Morison back in 2022 and went on to represent the club on 94 occasions, scoring six goals and providing eight assists. After injuries to several senior stars last year - like Joe Ralls, Aaron Ramsey and Jak Alnwick - the utility player donned the captain's arm band on a number of occasions. "We'd like to thank Callum for his efforts over the past three seasons and wish him the best of luck for the future," the club said in a statement. Ex-Aston Villa midfielder on radar While Cardiff fans are likely to have to wait until after the pre-season tour of Spain for senior signings, there could be movement at under-21s level. It is understood Cardiff are keen on signing recently-released Aston Villa midfielder Kyrie Pierre. The 20-year-old, who plays centrally but can also operate on either wing, left Villa last month, having joined their academy from Bristol Rovers back in 2021. He played in Europe in and Premier League 2 for the young Villans. The youngster scored five times in 32 Premier League 2 appearances for the Midlands club. City, who are yet to agree personal terms with Pierre, on Thursday announced the addition of another midfielder in Matthew Apter, another who left a Premier League club —Everton— this summer. Centre-back duo Charlie O'Brien, a Cork native just like new first-team boss Barry-Murphy, and Gabriel Keita were also confirmed as academy signings. Isaac Jefferies has also put pen to paper on a new deal with the club. Ramsey completes Mexico move Wales captain Aaron Ramsey has completed his move to Mexican top-flight side Pumas UNAM, becoming the first high-profile British player to sign for a club in Liga MX. The 34-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the Mexico City-based outfit, officially named Club Universidad Nacional, and says he is 'excited by the challenge' of continuing his career in North America. Ramsey, who shares an agent with Pumas manager and former Celtic player Efraín Juárez, said the head coach played a key role in convincing him to make the switch. 'I had many conversations with him,' said the former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder. 'What he's done in his young career so far has been exceptional. The vision and the values this club have really excited me and was something I wanted to be a part of." The Caerphilly-born playmaker has not featured for Wales since September 2024 and last played a competitive game in March. Now, he faces the physical demands of playing at altitude in one of the world's most challenging footballing environments. 'The altitude is definitely something to get used to,' he admitted. 'I'm doing well at the moment. Now it's about taking the next steps and hopefully I'll be on that pitch as soon as possible helping my team-mates. I don't want to put a date on it but hopefully very soon.' Despite his recent injury setbacks, Ramsey remains determined to prolong his career and hopes to lead Wales at the 2026 World Cup. He joins a Pumas side who finished sixth in the Liga MX standings last season and qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup. 'I've played with players who understand this league and have had conversations with them,' he said. 'It's very technical, a lot of great players have been produced, and the national team is very good.' Ramsey added: 'I've played for some of the best teams in the world and have always had pressure to win. I know what this club is capable of and I want to help them be successful and hopefully lift some silverware.' Pumas have not won a Mexican league title since 2011, but Ramsey says he is undaunted by the challenge and is eager to make his mark. 'I've experienced a lot in my career and that puts me in a good place going forward,' he said. 'I realise the expectation on this club and I'm here to play my part and help deliver what we all want this season.' First away game moved Cardiff City's first away game of the season against Port Vale has been moved to be on TV. The Bluebirds will feature on live television four times in August after Sky Sports selected a number of their League One fixtures for broadcast. Brian Barry-Murphy's side will kick off their 2025/26 campaign in front of the cameras at Cardiff City Stadium, with their opening match against Peterborough United moved to a 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday, 2 August. The EFL and Sky Sports have now confirmed their live picks through to the end of September, with three more Cardiff games chosen for coverage in the opening month of the season. City's first away game of the campaign, against Port Vale, has been rescheduled for an 8pm kick-off on Thursday, 7 August. Later in the month, their trip to Luton Town will also be shown live, with a lunchtime kick-off at Kenilworth Road set for 12:30pm on Saturday, 23 August. Article continues below The final televised fixture in the current selection window will see Cardiff host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, 30 August, also kicking off at 12:30pm. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here. Confirmed televised fixtures:
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Brian Barry-Murphy set to lose Callum O'Dowda to Robbie Keane's Ferencváros
Brian Barry-Murphy is set to lose Callum O'Dowda to another Irish manager with the Cardiff City left-sided player heading to Robbie Keane's Ferencváros. Cardiff's reality from being relegated to League One means offloading assets and the Ireland international becomes the latest necessary sale, according to Keane was appointed Ferencváros manager last January and lead them to their seventh straight Hungarian title, guaranteeing Champions League qualification. Read More Jimmy Barry-Murphy: Cork have been forewarned — and hopefully forearmed English-born O'Dowda (30) agreed a contract extension until 2028 with Cardiff City earlier this year, ensuring the Corkman will receive a fee for losing one of his experienced campaigners. He has begun overhauling his squad since being headhunted from his role as assistant manager of Leicester City. Nine Bluebirds' players were released following relegation from the Championship and two others - Michael Reindorf and Roko Simic - have secured loan moves away. O'Dowda emerged at Oxford United as a pacey winger but in more recent years had been redeployed for club and country to defence, primarily as a wing-back.
Wales Online
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Championship clubs linked with moves for two senior Cardiff City stars
Championship clubs linked with moves for two senior Cardiff City stars The duo have been important players for the Bluebirds in recent times Callum Robinson (R) is reportedly the subject of transfer interest (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Cardiff City duo Callum Robinson and Callum O'Dowda are reportedly the subject of interest from their former clubs in the Championship. The Bluebirds duo have been important players for the Welsh capital city club, with Robinson ending last season as top scorer, with O'Dowda having worn the captain's armband on a number of occasions after being elevated to a leadership position within the squad. Both are seen as Championship-standard players, and there appears to be early summer interest in them. According to the Irish Examiner, second-tier side Preston North End are keen on forward Robinson. The 30-year-old launched his career at Deepdale, signing for them permanently after impressing during two loan spells from Aston Villa. He went on to score 29 league goals in 110 appearance for the club before signing for Sheffield United in 2019. Fellow Irishman O'Dowda is apparently the subject of transfer interest from Oxford United, the club at which he, too, started his career, having come up through the youth ranks there. O'Dowda, also 30, enjoyed three seasons with the U's, then in League Two, before earning a Championship move to Bristol City in 2016. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community Article continues below Both players signed new contracts with Cardiff earlier in the season, with Robinson committing until 2027 and O'Dowda penning terms until 2028. As such, any deal to prise them away from Cardiff City Stadium will mean a decent-sized transfer fee from any prospective buyers. It is understood Cardiff are keen to get their manager in before sanctioning any sales, however it is also likely that a number of players will leave this summer. Speaking last month, chairman Mehmet Dalman confirmed the squad would be cut down in size for the League One campaign. 'We have 33 players on our books and that's quite a lot. I think that needs to be cut back to more like 25 or 26," Dalman said. "Out of the eight who are out of contract, we would probably lose six, maybe five. Article continues below "There may be a couple that we still want to have conversations with. That will bring us to a sensible number. "We probably need to add three or four players into the team." Last week Cardiff confirmed a raft of exits, including Aaron Ramsey, Anwar El Ghazi, Yakou Meite and Dimitrios Goutas, while the club remains in talks with Andy Rinomhota and Joe Ralls. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
