Bristol City's end of season clear-out means that fans have to say goodbye to Jamie Paterson, who is departing after nearly five years at the club.

Paterson arrived from Nottingham Forest in 2016 having fallen out of favour at the City Ground, but it took him a full season to be a regular at Ashton Gate under Lee Johnson.

There's been times when the attacking midfielder has found himself on the fringes, such as when he joined Derby County on loan in the first half of the 2019/20 campaign, but he found a way back and he started the season that has just finished in red-hot form.

The 29-year-old scored two goals in his first three games to the season but injury eventually restricted him to just 20 Championship matches, and Paterson departs having not played a game for City since February.

Having built up a rapport with fans since joining so long ago, it was always going to be an emotional departure and Paterson has delivered a message to the supporters who he couldn't say goodbye to in person because of behind closed doors matches via Twitter.

The Verdict

If he can stay fit, then Paterson will be a good pick-up for a Championship side for next season.

He's suffered with a nagging groin injury on two separate occasions this season and that's why he's been restricted to playing just 20 times in the league, and it's clear to see that they've missed his creativity since the end of February.

As Football Insider reported at the end of April, the likes of Birmingham City and Paterson's former club Nottingham Forest are looking at bringing him in, so he's likely to not be short of suitors this summer as he becomes a free agent.