Exclusive: West Brom, Coventry, Oxford & Blackburn in 5-team chase for Peterborough player
Peterborough United defender James Dornelly is wanted by multiple clubs higher up the English footballing pyramid, including four Championship sides, sources have exclusively told Football League World.
Known to many as a hotbed for developing young talent in the lower leagues, Posh had somewhat of a disappointing season in League One this past year, finishing 18th in the third tier standings.
They did secure a second-straight EFL Trophy success and have also helped to develop one of the top talents outside of the Premier League in Kwame Poku, and he may not be the only one to exit London Road this summer, with the aforementioned Dornelly attracting interest.
5 teams chase Peterborough United defender James Dornelly, including West Brom and Coventry City
FLW has been told that Posh right-back Dornelly is attracting interest from four Championship clubs, as well as Premier League outfit Fulham.
The Cottagers have also submitted a bid for United’s teenage left-back Harley Mills, as revealed by FLW this week, and they are now looking at Dornelly too in what could be a double raid of the Cambridgeshire outfit – it can also be revealed here that Fulham had a January offer turned down for 20-year-old Dornelly, who has been capped at under-20 level for England.
Marco Silva’s side are set to be joined by four Championship teams in the scramble for his services though. Managerless West Brom are one of those, and also in the running are Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers and Oxford United.
James Dornelly’s Peterborough United contract situation
A product of the Peterborough youth academy, having joined the club back in 2013, Dornelly has risen through the ranks, and was handed a senior debut back in August 2023 at the age of 18.
After appearing eight times in all competitions for Darren Ferguson last season, Dornelly has somewhat broken out in the 2024-25 campaign, with 36 appearances to his name and for most of the final few months of the season, he was Posh’s first-choice right-back.
However, any club wanting Dornelly is set to have to pay the right price, as he signed a new long-term contract back in August 2024, which lasts until the summer of 2028, meaning the youngster still has three years remaining on his contract at the Weston Homes Stadium.
