Cardiff City have signed winger Chris Willock on a three year deal following his departure from fellow Championship side QPR.
Willock is a product of the Arsenal academy, having joined The Gunners at the age of five alongside brother Joe Willock. The winger would go onto make his debut for the club against Nottingham Forest at the age of 18, helping Arsenal cruise to a 4-0 victory.
On the back of making his senior debut, Willock left The Gunners after fourteen years and joined Portuguese outfit Benfica on a five year-deal. Willock would become a prominent player in the club's B side. Turning out sixty-nine times over the course of two season, netting fourteen.
Willock joined West Brom on loan in August 2019 but failed to make a single appearance before his loan being terminated in January. Willock then made a January Deadline Day loan move to Huddersfield, where he would go on to make fourteen appearances, netting twice, one of which came against West Brom.
Willock then made the permanent switch to QPR in October 2020, for a reported fee of £750,000. His first goal for The R's came in January 2021 in a 1-0 victory over Cardiff, a goal that sealed the fate of former Bluebirds boss Neil Harris. Willock continued to come on leaps and bounds under Mark Warbuton at QPR, with a Premier League move being touted for the winger. Willock ended the 2021–22 season with the Supporters' Player of the Year, Ray Jones Players' Player of the Year and Junior Hoops' Player of the Year awards. Willock ended the season with an impressive seven goals and eleven assists.
Willock would continue his fine form under Michael Beale, playing a crucial role in The R's' early season success under Beale. Beale would go on to depart during the 22/23 season, and was replaced by Gareth Ainsworth. Things didn't click for Willock under Ainsworth and the winger struggled to find any form under the former Bluebird. Willock still managed to end the campaign with seven goals.
Following the arrival of Marti Cifuentes last season, Willock showed signs o returning to his previous impressive form scoring three in three games. The 26 year-old would go on to have an ok rest of the season with a handful of good performances, ending the season with four goals and four assists.
After negotiations with The R's, Willock decided against a stay London and has decided to join The Bluebirds.
A good start to the window, and adds much needed pace and Championship experience to the squad.
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