The 2025–26 season was the 124th season in the history of Exeter City Football Club and their fourth consecutive season in League One. The club finished 21st in the league and were relegated to League Two for the next season. In addition to the domestic league, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.
Managerial changes On 16 February, Gary Caldwell departed as manager after one hundred and eighty matches in charge, and a 36.67% win rate, to join Wigan Athletic for a compensation sum. A fortnight later, Matt Taylor returned as manager until the end of the season, having previously been in charge between 2018 and 2022.
Statistics Appearances and goals Players with no appearances are not included on the list; italics indicate loaned in player
|colspan="14"|Player(s) who featured but departed the club during the season:
Transfers and contracts In Date Pos. Player From Fee Ref. 16 June 2025 CB Johnly Yfeko Rangers Undisclosed 1 July 2025 Luca Woodhouse Wycombe Wanderers Free 1 July 2025 CF Jayden Wareham Reading Compensation 31 July 2025 GK Jack Bycroft Swindon Town Free 1 August 2025 CM Jake Doyle-Hayes Sligo Rovers Undisclosed 1 September 2025 LB Danny Andrew Stockport County Free
Out Date Pos. Player To Fee Ref. 26 June 2026 CF Jay Bird Salford City Undisclosed 10 February 2026 CDM Edward Francis Rochdale
Loaned in Date Pos. Player From Date until Ref. 25 June 2025 LB Ryan Rydel Stockport County 31 May 2026 26 June 2025 CM Ethan Brierley Brentford 10 July 2025 GK Joe Whitworth Crystal Palace 17 July 2025 CB Sil Swinkels Aston Villa 4 January 2026 1 September 2025 LW Akeel Higgins West Bromwich Albion 31 May 2026 1 September 2025 AM Carlos Mendes Gomes Bolton Wanderers 16 January 2016 CF Timur Tutierov Sunderland
Loaned out Date Pos. Player To Date until Ref. 15 July 2025 GK Frankie Phillips Taunton Town 13 February 2026 19 September 2025 RW Andrew Oluwabori Yeovil Town 3 January 2026 10 October 2025 CM Charlie Cummins Weston-super-Mare 21 February 2026 31 October 2025 CAM George Birch 3 January 2026 7 November 2025 CB Ed James Chippenham Town 31 December 2025 28 November 2025 CF Kieran Wilson Torquay United 19 March 2026 18 December 2025 RB Louie Cayless Plymouth Parkway 15 January 2026 10 February 2026 CB Ed James Torquay United 10 March 2026 17 February 2026 GK Frankie Phillips Plymouth Parkway 31 May 2026 19 March 2026 RM Tom Dean Truro City CF Kieran Wilson 26 March 2026 CAM George Birch Chippenham Town
Released / Out of Contract Date Pos. Player Subsequent club Join Date Ref.30 June 2025 AM Mitch Beardmore Bath City 1 July 2025 LB Vincent Harper Walsall Demetri Mitchell Leyton Orient CB Ben Purrington Cambridge United AM Caleb Watts Plymouth Argyle LM Max Edgecombe Plymouth Parkway 3 July 2025 CM Jake Richards Luton Town 5 July 2025 CB Cheick Diabaté St Johnstone 7 July 2025 CM Gabe Billington Tiverton Town 8 August 2025 GK Harry Lee Crystal Palace 15 August 2025 LW Pat Jones Chester 19 August 2025 GK Shaun MacDonald Newport County 7 October 2025 CB Angus MacDonald Barrow 5 March 2026 LW Yanic Wildschut 7 July 2025 DM Ryan Woods Oldham Athletic 7 July 2025
New Contract Date Pos. Player Contract until Ref. 18 June 2025 CF Kieran Wilson Undisclosed 17 July 2025 CDM Kevin McDonald 30 June 2026 18 December 2025 RB Louie Cayless 30 June 2028 10 April 2026 CM Charlie Cummins 30 June 2027 14 April 2026 CAM George Birch 16 April 2026 CB Ed James 30 June 2027 22 April 2026 RM Tom Dean 30 June 2027 GK Frankie Phillips
Pre-season and friendlies On 11 May, Exeter City announced a testimonial for Pierce Sweeney against Swansea City, to mark his tenth season at Exeter City. Two days later, a trip to Torquay United was confirmed. A third fixture was added to the schedule against FC United of Manchester, to mark their 20th anniversary of supporter ownership. A fourth fixture was added to the schedule, against Weston-super-Mare.
Competitions
Overall record
League One
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On 26 June, the League One fixtures were announced.
FA Cup
Exeter were drawn away to FC Halifax Town in the first round, at home to Wycombe Wanderers in the second round and away to Manchester City in the third round.
EFL Cup
On 26 June, the draw for the first round was made, with Exeter being drawn away against Cheltenham Town.
EFL Trophy
Exeter were drawn against Cardiff City, Newport County and Arsenal U21 in the group stage.
Knockout stages After finishing second in the group stages, City were drawn away to Luton Town in the round of 32.
References