ROBBIE Cundy is looking forward to ‘settling down’ at Barnsley after making the ‘no-brainer’ decision to sign for them over other League One clubs and his former employers Bristol City.

The 25-year-old centre-back joined the Reds for free on a two-year deal, after leaving the Championship Robins who had offered him a new deal.

Cundy told the Chronicle: “As soon as I spoke to the CEO Khaled (El-Ahmad), that sold it for me. His goals and the ambitions of the club were to my liking.

“The main thing for me is gametime and I wasn’t sure I would be getting that at my previous club.

“I am 25 so I need to play every week.

“I always wanted, for my next contract, to settle down somewhere so obviously I can do that at Barnsley after signing for two years. There were a few other League One clubs interested but Barnsley was a no-brainer for me. I am delighted to be here, hopefully I can play a lot of games and get us back in the Champ where the club deserves to be.”

Cundy joins a group of centre-backs at Oakwell that currently includes Michal Helik and Mads Andersen who have previously shone in the Championship.

“There are quite a few centre halves. It’s healthy competition, we will drive each other on and I am sure it will be a positive for the season.”

Another centre-back is new head coach Michael Duff, who joined last week from Cheltenham.

Cundy said: “I have come across him a few times at Cheltenham and played against him a few times.

“I knew he was a good manager and used to be a centre half. I hope I can learn a lot from him and improve my game under him. I like what I see already from the gaffer. He is big on the defenders. We have been working on stuff already.”

After a spell in Aston Villa’s academy, Cundy began his career at Oxford United but was released without making his debut, having been loaned to five non-league clubs including Gloucester City with whom he then spent a season before another with Bath City.

While working part-time as a fitness instructor at a gym, his form for the National League South club earned him a move back to professional football with Bristol City in 2019.

Cundy – known as a tall and strong defender – was loaned out to Exeter City, but did not play a game for the League Two club, then non-league Torquay United as well as Cambridge United, who were on their way to promotion from League Two, and League One Gillingham, with whom he suffered a serious knee injury which kept him out for a year.

He eventually broke into the Bristol City team earlier this year, generally impressing in 14 Championship matches including a 2-0 loss at Oakwell in March.

He has made 49 EFL appearances.