- Barnsley is bidding farewell to high-profile players following their defeat in the play-off semi-finals.
- Six players have contracts expiring in the next season which could lead to another exodus next year.
- Players like Cosgrove, Styles, and Benson may be playing for their future at Barnsley or elsewhere due to contract situations.
Having failed to get promoted from League One back to the Championship this year, Barnsley will be saying goodbye to a number of well-known players this summer.
The Tykes’ hopes of returning to the second division were dashed by a loss to Bolton Wanderers in the play-off semifinals, which also led to a player exodus.
The departure of Devante Cole, Herbie Kane, Nicky Cadden, Robbie Cundy, and Jordan Williams from Oakwell this summer due to contract expiration has already been confirmed.
Without a doubt, Barnsley will miss those players the following season if they are not replaced, and there’s a chance that the same scenario may occur in a year.
Six players’ contracts with the team are set to expire at the conclusion of the following campaign, and they could then sign free agents in the summer of 2025.
Here, we’ve looked at the players whose contracts with Barnsley are scheduled to expire next summer.
Callum Styles
Styles is one player who has some prior experience leaving Barnsley, having spent time on loan at Millwall and Sunderland in the Championship.
This summer, the Black Cats still have the choice to extend the midfielder’s loan. It is unclear, though, if they will take that action; that decision might not be made until after they have chosen a new manager.
Though the Hungary international is approaching the last year of his contract with the Tykes, Styles is currently back with Barnsley.
Donovan Pines
Pines, who moved from DC United in his home country of the USA on a free transfer in January, gained a lot of popularity among Tykes fans.
The centre back, though, was limited to just four club appearances before an injury ended his season.
The 26-year-old is entering the last year of his contract at Oakwell after agreeing to an 18-month contract. However, Barnsley is somewhat safeguarded by the fact that they can choose to extend the contract for an additional year.
Sam Cosgrove
Cosgrove, who joined Oakwell on the last day of the summer transfer window from Birmingham City, has had a mixed first season.
In 38 appearances across all competitions for Barnsley, the striker has only managed six goals, though three of those came in the play-offs towards the end of the season.
He joined the team on a two-year contract, but the Tykes have the option to extend it by an additional year. As he approaches the last 12 months of his contract, he could leave for free next summer.
Conor McCarthy
McCarthy has experienced a lot of frustration since leaving St. Mirren to join Barnsley in the summer of 2022.
The centre back, who has only made 14 appearances for the team overall, played for Swindon Town on loan during the second half of this season.
Because of this, some may wonder if the Tykes should try to cash in on him while they have the opportunity this summer, especially since his contract is set to expire at the end of the following season.
Oli Shaw
Another person who moved to Oakwell in January 2023 but never really got going is Shaw, who originally joined from Kilmarnock.
The striker is still waiting for his first goal for the Tykes, having made just eight appearances since joining the team.
As he approaches the last year of his current Barnsley contract, the 26-year-old is another who might raise concerns about his future this summer after spending time on loan in Scotland with Motherwell this season.
Josh Benson
Benson left Burnley for Barnsley in the summer of 2021 for an undisclosed sum.
Since then, the midfielder has made 78 appearances for the Tykes across all competitions, despite missing a significant portion of the most recent season because of a serious injury.
Consequently, he might have a point or two to prove in the upcoming season, especially since he’ll be entering the last year of his contract and could be playing for his future at Barnsley or somewhere else.
