FROM promotion and relegation, to picking up new clubs in Gibraltar and Brazil, it was an action-packed season for those who departed Cherries last summer.
A total of 16 players were either released, sold, or returned to their parent clubs having been with Cherries in the 2022-23 campaign.
Many more went on to leave on a temporary basis during the last campaign, but here is a look at those who left Cherries permanently this time last year.
Promotions
Let’s start with those who ended the season celebrating, and not too far away either.
Along the coast, it turned into a campaign to remember for both Southampton and Portsmouth.
The Hampshire duo both sealed spots in higher leagues for 2024-25, Saints returning to the Premier League and Pompey returning to the Championship.
Christian Saydee saw his contract extended by Cherries last summer having made six first-team appearances, but that was purely to protect his value and force Pompey into paying a fee to get him.
The striker was in and out of the side at Portsmouth, but ended the campaign having made 42 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals.
John Mousinho’s men were crowned champions of League One, 22-year-old Saydee playing his part in the success.
Just last weekend, Jack Stephens captained Southampton to success at Wembley.
Stephens played a key role in Cherries avoiding relegation in 2022-23 during a loan spell from Saints, with a return on a permanent basis mooted.
But Stephens would not come back to Cherries, instead becoming a key cog under new Saints boss Russell Martin.
The 30-year-old missed a big chunk of the campaign through injury, before returning during the closing weeks of the season and lifted the play-off trophy after playing a full 90 minutes of the 1-0 win over Leeds United in the final.
Another player who achieved promotion in 2023-24 was Brooklyn Genesini.
The young full-back was released last summer, after one appearance and one goal for Cherries’ senior side.
He was snapped up on a free transfer by Swindon Town, but after struggling for game-time moved on loan to Yeovil Town in March.
And he helped get the Glovers over the line in the closing weeks of the season as they won National League South.
Relegation
But it was not all plain sailing for those who left the club.
Siriki Dembele was exiled from the first-team squad during pre-season last year, the club keen to move him on.
The winger made nine appearances for Cherries in 2022-23, before a loan switch to Auxerre.
And he left on a permanent basis in July to join Birmingham City.
The Blues made a flying start in the Championship under boss John Eustace, only for him to be inexplicably sacked and replaced by Wayne Rooney.
Birmingham’s form tumbled, Rooney was sacked and Tony Mowbray hired. As the Blues appeared to be steadying the ship, Mowbray was taken ill and had to step back from managerial duties.
Mark Venus had an interim spell at the helm, before the club turned to Gary Rowett, who could not quite save Birmingham from relegation.
Dembele made 37 appearances, scoring six goals, but was regularly left out of the team in the closing weeks of the season.
Moves around England
The biggest departure last summer was the exit of Jefferson Lerma, who joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer.
Voted the Daily Echo/Micky Cave player of the year for his exploits in 2022-23, Cherries were not able to keep hold of the Colombian, who sought a new challenge.
Hampered by a couple of injury issues, Lerma made 31 club appearances, scoring once, as Palace eventually pipped Cherries to a top-half finish on the final day.
The 29-year-old is now gearing up for Copa America this summer.
Somebody else who also joined Palace last summer was young defender Chris Francis, helping the development squad win the Premier League International Cup, although he did not feature in the final.
In the Championship, Ben Pearson was part of a relegation battle with Stoke City.
Like Dembele, Pearson was left out of first-team plans last summer and made the move to the Potters, where he had spent the second half of the previous season on loan.
Midfielder Pearson made 32 appearances in 2023-24, collecting 13 yellow cards and one red.
Stoke ended the season strongly to pull away from danger and finish 17th, but Pearson was not involved in any of the last eight games due to injury.
Someone who had a better season in the second tier was Jack Stacey.
Released at the end of his contract after four years at Cherries, the energetic right-back did not miss a league game for Norwich City, making 51 appearances in total, scoring once and providing six assists.
The Canaries finished sixth under David Wagner, but were knocked out of the play-offs by Leeds. Wagner was sacked soon after.
A number of youngsters found new challenges in non-league after they were let go by Cherries.
Marcus Daws initially got a move to Luton Town, before opting to leave professional football behind in January and sign for Dorchester Town.
He played a big role in the Magpies rising up the Southern League Premier South table under Tom Killick.
Goalkeeper Ollie Camis was let go by Cherries last summer and found a new club in February.
The teenage Welshman joined Luton after impressing on trial.
Hatters goalkeeper coach Albert Bell said: “Oliver was recommended to us by the head of academy goalkeeping at Bournemouth in the summer and we brought him in on trial.
“He’s a good shot-stopper and is good with his distribution over various distances.
“He’s really fitted in with the different players he’s played with in games for the Under-18s and 21s in recent weeks, and we’re looking forward to seeing how he develops with us here full-time.”
Josh Popoola, who showed his eye for goal during his brief spell at Cherries, joined Stockport County in the summer, but could not make his mark and was loaned out.
Following spells at Spennymoor Town, Chorley and Warrington Town, the winger signed for National South Tonbridge Angels on a permanent basis in March.
In the Isthmian League, Matt Burgess made a big impact with Bognor Regis Town.
The midfielder starred for Robbie Blake’s Rocks, and has been rewarded with a new contract.
Former Burnley star Blake said: “Matty has had a great season with us and we are delighted that he has decided to continue his development here.
“I see him as a hugely influential player in the middle of the park for us and feel as if we can build something special around him, going into next season - that is certainly the hope anyway.”
Further afield
Three players who exited Cherries after 2022-23 having been plying their trade abroad.
Academy graduate Jordan Zemura left under somewhat of a cloud, taking the intriguing decision to join Serie A outfit Udinese on a free transfer.
The Zimbabwe international was largely restricted to substitute appearances, but played 29 times in total, scoring once.
He played his part in standout wins away to Juventus, AC Milan and Lazio, as well as the final-day victory over Frosinone, which saw Udinese avoid relegation.
Since April, Zemura’s manager has been 2006 Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro.
Fellow left-back Matias Vina caught the eye during his loan spell in 2022-23, with Cherries considering going back in for him on a permanent basis.
But they opted not to, Vina spending some time on loan at Sassuolo, before a permanent switch in January to Brazilian outfit Flamengo.
Back in Europe, young defender Tarik Gidaree joined the most successful club in Gibraltar in Lincoln Red Imps in January, but has struggled for game-time.
Retired
The only player who left Cherries last summer and decided to call it a day was Junior Stanislas.
The club legend suffered wretched luck with a string of injury issues towards the end of his playing career and opted to hang up his boots.
In February, he returned to Cherries, hired as assistant manager to under-18s boss James Lowy.
(Pictures: Richard Crease, Stuart Martin, AFC Bournemouth, Phil Standfield & PA)
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