Bartosz Cybulski Signs New Spalding Contract Amid EFL Interest

Bartosz Cybulski has signed a new contract at Spalding United, committing his future to the Tulips until the end of the 2027/28 season after a red-hot start to life in the National League North.

An 11-goal start

The towering Polish forward has 11 goals in the early weeks of the campaign, including two hat-tricks, and sits joint-top of the division's scoring charts. Spalding say they've turned down "significant approaches" for the striker in recent weeks - enough to persuade the club to move fast and tie him to fresh terms rather than risk losing him mid-season.

It's easy to see why interest is building. At 6'6", Cybulski is a natural focal point, and his numbers this season put him firmly on the radar of clubs a level or two above National League North - including the EFL, where his own story began.

From Derby's academy to Spalding's talisman

Cybulski came through Derby County's academy, making his senior debut as a teenager in an FA Cup tie against Chorley during the club's COVID-hit 2020/21 season, and had loan spells at Matlock Town, Solihull Moors and AFC Fylde - the last of those ending in promotion from National League North. Derby released him in 2023, and after a mixed year at King's Lynn Town, he joined Spalding the following September.

Tulips boss Jimmy Dean has been clear about the turnaround: "When we got him here he was on his lowest ebb. He struggled at times in the league below, but now we're getting the full fruits of our labour with him - and his own labour, because he's put an awful lot in to get where he is."

Learning from Ormerod

The comparison Spalding will hope doesn't need making too often is with Danny Ormerod, last season's National League North Golden Boot runner-up, who moved from AFC Fylde to Peterborough United for £600,000 this summer. Cybulski isn't at that stage yet, but a new long-term deal buys Spalding time and protects their asset while they try to build on an unlikely push towards the top end of the table in only their first season at this level.

For now, the message from both player and club is the same: his immediate future is at Sir Halley Stewart Field, whatever offers come calling.