By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigerian international Jamilu Collins will leave Cardiff City at the end of June following the expiration of his two-year contract, the club confirmed in an official statement published on Friday.
The 29-year-old left-back joined the Bluebirds in 2022 from German side SC Paderborn 07 but struggled to establish himself in the starting lineup due to a series of injury setbacks and fitness concerns that plagued his time in Wales.
Collins was listed among seven senior players set to depart when their contracts officially conclude on June 30, 2025, bringing an end to what has been a frustrating spell for both player and club.
Despite arriving with considerable experience, having made 137 appearances for Paderborn in the 2. Bundesliga—Collins was unable to replicate that form in the Championship.
Persistent injuries limited his availability, and at one stage, reports suggested Cardiff were considering terminating his deal prematurely due to his extended absence from the squad.
Meanwhile, in a move that signals a focus on youth development, Cardiff have exercised an extension option on U-21 defender Adeteye Gbadehan and have offered a professional contract to academy graduate Daniel Ola, both of Nigerian descent.
As Collins looks to revive his career elsewhere, his next move remains uncertain, though he is expected to attract interest from clubs across Europe and possibly back in the German leagues.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
