Cardiff City are set to complete the loan deal of FC Copenhagen goalkeeper Nathan Trott on a season-long loan deal, marking Brian Barry-Murphy’s first major signing as the Bluebirds prepare for life in League One.
Outside of the persistent takeover talk, it has been a quiet summer in the Welsh capital for transfers. However, Brian Barry-Murphy is looking to stamp his vision on his new side with potentially up to four new signings.
The first piece of the puzzle is set to be acquired with Tipsbladet and WalesOnline reporting that the Bermudan shot-stopper has travelled to the Welsh capital today in order to undergo his medical.
Cardiff have secured an option to make the move permanent if they manage to get themselves back up to the Championship come May. That buy-out clause is set at a reported £1.57m fee for the former West Ham man.
Nathan Trott har sagt farvel til sine holdkammerater i FC København og er rejst til Wales for at gennemgå sit lægetjek og skrive under på lejeaftalen for et år med Cardiff City. Købsoptionen er på 1,8 mio. euro, 13,5 mio. kr., hvis de rykker op igen. https://t.co/qEdh5UF0mY
— Farzam Abolhosseini (@F_Abolhosseini) July 30, 2025
From West Ham Academy to Danish Success
Trott's journey through football took an interesting route after Clyde Best, the legendary Bermuda striker, recommended him to West Ham back in 2016. While he did get his senior debut for the Hammers - coming in that FA Cup win against Doncaster in January 2021 - it was clear his route to regular first-team action would need to come elsewhere.
That's exactly what happened through a series of loan moves that really shaped his career. Spells at AFC Wimbledon in League One and Nancy in France's second tier were useful, but it was his time at Vejle in Denmark where things really clicked. He was instrumental in getting them promoted from the Danish 1st Division in 2022-23, then proved he could cut it at the top level in the Superliga.
Copenhagen clearly saw the potential in Trott and stumped up £1.7 million to bring him in permanently last June, with plans to make him their long-term number one. However, when Borussia Dortmund's Diant Ramaj arrived on loan in February, Trott suddenly found himself surplus to requirements. This opened the door for Cardiff to swoop in.
Strategic Acquisition for Barry-Murphy’s Vision
This signing looks tailor-made for what Barry-Murphy wants to do at Cardiff. The new boss is clearly after a keeper who’s comfortable with the ball at his feet and can actually contribute when they’re building attacks from the back. Trott fits that bill. The years Nathan spent playing outfield at Valencia before transitioning to a goalkeeper have given him technical skills and distribution quality that most stoppers simply don’t possess.
Cardiff needed a stopper who can possess these qualities, which it seems Barry-Murphy does not believe Cardiff already have in their ranks. There’s been a real question mark hanging over their goalkeeper situation all summer, with Ethan Horvath apparently keen to move on and boost his chances of making the USA squad for the 2026 World Cup. You can understand his thinking, especially after the recent relegation Cardiff suffered. Trott coming in kills two birds with one stone - he’ll provide real competition for Horvath and Jak Alnwick if he stays beyond his loan period, but also gives Cardiff a proper long-term option if the American does end up leaving.
