Barnsley star Reyes Cleary has made a transfer request in the last hours of the summer window in an attempt to force a move away from Oakwell before the deadline, with many Championship clubs already monitoring his status.

According to Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, Barnsley forward Cleary has submitted a transfer request, indicating his intention to depart the club before the 11 p.m. deadline today.

Cleary had a stellar year in League One under Conor Hourihane and drew interest from a number of Championship clubs this summer, but with no contract in place, the winger has taken matters into his own hands in an attempt to force a transfer.

Reyes Cleary has lodged a transfer request, as Derby County, Millwall, and Stoke City lurk.

Cleary, 22, rose through the ranks at West Brom but made only seven first-team appearances for the Black Country club, instead gaining first-team experience on loan with Walsall and Hartlepool United, with varied degrees of success.

Cleary was allowed to leave West Brom on a free transfer last summer after nine direct goal contributions in 20 National League games for the Monkey Hangers, and Barnsley took a chance on the winger, which has paid off handsomely.

The Tykes turned down bids of up to £3 million from multiple Championship clubs earlier in the window, and have remained steadfast in their appraisal of their star player, whose contract is not set to expire until the summer of 2028.

With only hours till the deadline, Cleary is attempting to drive Barnsley into a transfer, with McAdam saying that Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City, Derby County, Millwall, and Stoke City have all kept an eye on the players’ status over the past year.

Why do Championship clubs want to sign Reyes Cleary

Cleary, who starred in the fifth tier during the second half of the 2024/25 season, moved up to the third tier with Barnsley last summer and adapted quickly to League One.

In his first year at that level, the Englishman scored seven goals and assisted 13 times in 42 league games from the left wing for Barnsley, and he has one goal and one assist in the Tykes’ first three games this season.

Derby are searching for a wide range of options in the last phases of the window after Jaydon Banel and Ben Brereton Diaz returned to their respective clubs on loans, Millwall are bracing for the departure of Femi Azeez, and Stoke are ready to part ways with Sorba Thomas.

While he won’t be cheap, especially at this stage of the window, with Barnsley having little time to find a replacement, Cleary is the obvious choice for any Championship club looking for a winger in the last stages of the window.

Reyes Cleary could stay at Barnsley despite a transfer request.

McAdam has stated that, while multiple Championship clubs are interested in Cleary, a trade is far from likely at this point in the window, with it unclear whether he would remain at Oakwell after 11 p.m. tonight.

Barnsley would definitely hope he stays despite his transfer request, with the Yorkshire club aiming for the play-offs this season under Daniel Stendel.

This story appears to be getting down to the wire, and it is surely one to watch in the coming hours.