Hull City announces their retained list, including a new contract and seven senior players leaving.

Hull City have officially announced their retained list ahead of the new season, confirming a number of changes across both the senior squad and the club’s academy setup. The Championship club has revealed which players will remain at the MKM Stadium, which loan players have returned to their parent clubs, and which members of the academy system have either earned new opportunities or been released.

One of the key decisions made by the Tigers concerns goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright. The club has activated a one-year extension clause in the 24-year-old’s contract, ensuring that he will remain with Hull City until at least the end of the upcoming campaign. Cartwright, who was born in Grimsby, spent part of last season gaining valuable experience away from the club during a loan spell with Hartlepool United. By extending his stay, Hull have demonstrated their continued belief in the goalkeeper and his potential contribution to the squad moving forward.

Hull City’s Amir Hadziahmetovic celebrates with fans after the match at Ewood Park(Image: v)

Cartwright’s contract extension represents the only senior first-team retention decision announced as part of the club’s retained list. Meanwhile, midfielder Harry Vaughan is set to depart when his current deal expires on June 30. Vaughan spent the latter part of the season on loan with Irish side Bohemians and will now leave Hull City permanently once his contract officially comes to an end. His departure brings an end to his association with the Tigers as the club continues to reshape its squad for the future.

Hull have also confirmed the conclusion of several temporary arrangements involving players who joined the club on loan during the previous campaign. As expected, those players will now return to their parent clubs following the expiration of their loan agreements. The group includes striker Joe Gelhardt, midfielder Toby Collyer, midfielder Amir Hadziahmetovic, winger Yu Hirakawa, forward Lewis Koumas, and experienced midfielder John Lundstram. Each player contributed to varying degrees during their time at the club, but none will remain at Hull under their current agreements.

Aside from those departures and Cartwright’s contract extension, the remainder of Hull City’s senior squad remains under contract for at least another season. This provides the club with a solid foundation as preparations continue for the next campaign. Having much of the core squad already tied down allows the Tigers to focus their attention on strengthening specific areas of the team during the summer transfer window rather than undertaking a complete rebuild.

Changes have also been confirmed within Hull City’s Under-21 setup. Among the notable departures is Rocco Coyle, the younger brother of first-team captain Lewie Coyle. While Lewie recently celebrated helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League, Rocco’s journey with Hull City has come to an end after he was released by the club. His departure forms part of a wider reshuffle within the academy ranks.

Several other Under-21 players will also leave the Tigers after reaching the end of their contracts. Pharrell Brown, Sammy Henia-Kamau, João Mendes, Harry Revill, Noah Wadsworth, and Callum Yam have all been released and will seek opportunities elsewhere. The departures reflect the highly competitive nature of academy football, where clubs regularly assess young players’ progress and make decisions based on long-term development plans.

While some academy players are moving on, others have been rewarded with the chance to continue their development at the club. Hull City have offered new contracts to a number of promising Under-21 players. Stan Ashbee, Ed Devine, Archie Howard, Aidon Shehu, and Nathan Tinsdale have each received fresh terms, highlighting the club’s confidence in their abilities and future potential. These players will now have the opportunity to continue progressing within Hull’s development pathway as they aim to push closer to first-team involvement.

There has also been positive news for several members of the club’s Under-18 squad. Ramell Carter and Josh Ocaya, both second-year scholars, have signed their first professional contracts with Hull City. As a result, the pair will step up into the Under-21 squad ahead of the new season. Signing a first professional deal represents a significant milestone in any young footballer’s career and serves as recognition of their hard work and progress within the academy system.

In addition to Carter and Ocaya, four other young players have been offered professional contracts. Zac Jagielka, Charlie Leach, Calvin Okike, and Reuben Silk have all been invited to continue their journeys with the Tigers by joining the Under-21 setup. These offers underline Hull City’s commitment to developing homegrown talent and providing promising youngsters with a pathway toward senior football.

The retained list announcement provides a comprehensive overview of Hull City’s plans as they prepare for the challenges of the coming season. The extension of Harvey Cartwright’s contract ensures continuity in the goalkeeping department, while the departure of Harry Vaughan and the return of several loan players mark the end of a number of existing arrangements. At academy level, a combination of releases, contract renewals, and professional offers reflects the club’s ongoing effort to balance player development with long-term squad planning.

With the majority of the senior squad remaining under contract and a number of talented young players progressing through the ranks, Hull City will now turn their attention toward summer recruitment and pre-season preparations as they look to build on recent successes and continue moving forward as a club.