Bogle, Celar, Thor and more – the 27 latest EFL signings
Bogle, Celar, Thor and more – the 27 latest EFL signings
NTT20's Summer Transfer Bulletin brings you every signing in the EFL, in detail, in your inbox, every Monday and Thursday.
The Summer Transfer Bulletin is brought to you by Ali Maxwell, George Elek, Huw Davies, Sam Parry, Craig Bradley and Matt Watts. The introduction is by Craig Bradley.
It’s time to put the spotlight on Birmingham City’s rebuild.
We are witnessing the assembling of what could possibly be one of the best squads ever seen in English football’s third tier. I’m not talking about a promotion-ready squad; I’m talking the potential for a 100+ points, 100+ goals season.
Hyperbole? Perhaps, but what you’re reading comes from the mind of an Aston Villa fan – trust me when I say I’m trying to find the flaws in what Blues are doing. I just don’t see any.
So far, seven players have arrived for a combined reported outlay of more than £10m. The landscape of undisclosed fees means it can’t be declared for certain, but Birmingham may well have broken League One’s transfer record twice this summer, and almost certainly once. They’ll be many out there bemoaning their spending power and the disparity between budgets in the division, asking how the wages being offered are fair at this level. If Birmingham do have the season that I foresee, the club and their fans will have to endure much screaming of, ‘YOU BOUGHT THE LEAGUE’.
Granted, Birmingham aren’t fishing for free agents amongst the discarded shopping trolleys of the Grand Union Canal. They’re venturing into prettier Dutch waters, and having financial clout always helps. But squad-building is difficult regardless. No recruitment team should be lambasted because they had money to spend – and to my eye, they are spending it wisely.
Let’s look at the signings so far.
“Squad-building rarely gets more exciting than this…”
The goalkeeping department has been revamped. Ryan Allsop comes in off the back of 139 Championship appearances across the past four seasons, with four different clubs, most recently for promotion-chasing Hull City. Wherever he goes, he earns the No.1 jersey, and as a boyhood Bluenose he provides a connection between the pitch and the stands. Bailey Peacock-Farrell, signed from Burnley, has his critics but also the experience of an 85-point League One season with Sheffield Wednesday in 2021/22.
At the other end of the pitch, Alfie May arrives after three consecutive 20+ goals in a League One campaign, all with teams that finished in the bottom half of the division. He’s as close to a guarantee as you’ll find.
Arguably the most important signing made is that of Hearts left-back Alex Cochrane – important not only because the 24-year-old just enjoyed a stellar season in the Scottish top flight, but because this one signing makes Birmingham more tactically flexible. Cochrane will provide competition for Lee Buchanan at full-back yet he can also be used at LCB, if manager Chris Davies should prefer Blues in a back three.
And finally, the more exotic arrivals. Towering Austrian centre-back Christoph Klarer has signed from Darmstadt – recently relegated from the Bundesliga – while Emil Hansson and Willum Thor Willumsson traded in the Eredivisie for League One. Indeed, Willumsson even gave up a chance to play in the Europa Conference League this month.
Hansson, an inverted wideman from the left, is similar in stature to Alfie May and another with a great goal record. Willumsson is at the other end of the literal scale: a giant #10, he plays the role in a peculiar way, offering creativity by way of flick-ons and lay-offs while also being technically sound on the ground. He’ll provide the brawn at the top end.
Note, too, that these foreign imports aren’t end-of-career mercenaries. Klarer, Willumsson and Hansson are respectively 24, 25 and 26 – they’ve been bought not just to bring Birmingham instant promotion but to grow with the club as well. Plus, they’re winners: Klarer was considered the best defender in 2.Bundesliga for the 2022/23 campaign, Hansson has a recent Eerste Divisie promotion with Heracles on his CV, and just last season Willumsson played a key role in helping Go Ahead Eagles to qualify for Europe.
Add these players to a squad that already has Dion Sanderson, Krystian Bielik, Ethan Laird, Jordan James, Paik Seung-ho, Tyler Roberts, Siriki Dembele and Koji Miyoshi, among others, and there’s clearly no intention of hanging around in League One for more than one season.
The proof will be on the grass rather than the whiteboard, but as far as squad-building goes, it rarely gets more exciting than this.
Championship
“If he can adapt, then this could be a bit of a coup for QPR…”
Sinclair Armstrong (ST) - [QPR - Bristol City] - Undisclosed
Another 21 Under 21 member is on the move. That’s four, now, and we expect a few more in Jordan James, Harrison Burrows and Tommy Conway.
QPR are happy to have received a handsome fee, thought to be anything between £1.5m and £2.5m (minus a sell-on percentage to Shamrock Rovers), for a player who was entering the final 12 months of his contract. ‘Sincs’ Armstong didn’t convince the Loftus Road crowd, yet there’s no shortage of opposition fans who’ve been wowed by the Irish international’s performances against their team.
A player of his physical profile is always going to be in demand – indeed, Bristol City reportedly fought off late competition for his signature – and Liam Manning hopes he can ignite the ability that Armstrong threatens.
Vaclav Hladky (GK) - [Ipswich - Burnley] - Free
With Arijanet Muric heading to Ipswich, Burnley needed another keeper, and it just so happened that the Tractor Boys released a very good one at the end of last season. Vaclav Hladky excelled for Kieran McKenna’s side in 23/24, keeping 14 clean sheets and making countless vital saves as Ipswich reached the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
Commanding in the air and good with his feet, the 33-year-old Czech is more than capable of being the Clarets’ new No.1 if James Trafford does move on this summer.
Oliver Dovin (GK) - [Hammarby - Coventry] - Undisclosed
Cov look primed for another good season with lots of stability and targeted incomings. The area of the pitch that most needed acting upon was in nets, and in signing 22-year-old Oliver Dovin they’ve potentially future-proofed the position for this season and beyond.
Already armed with plenty of continental competition and international experience, Dovin ranks 2nd for goals prevented, 3rd for save percentage, 3rd for number of saves and 4th for clean sheets in this season’s Allsvenskan (Sweden’s top flight). He’s a commanding keeper, yet agile and with great reflexes. He also offers good short distribution and the capability of going mid-long-range.
Jayden Bogle (RB) - [Sheffield United - Leeds] - Undisclosed
Part of the Derby team who won that infamous post-Spygate Play-Off semi-final at Elland Road, Jayden Bogle is now a Leeds United player. Two of Bogle’s four seasons at Sheffield United were spent struggling in the Premier League but, at Championship level, he is one of the best attacking right-backs or wing-backs around.
The 23-year-old – signed for a fee believed to be in the region of £5m and potentially rising to £7m with add-ons – should add a new dimension to Daniel Farke’s promotion-chasing side.
Matt Ingram (GK) - [Hull - Oxford] - Undisclosed
After making 60 second-tier starts for Hull over the past three seasons, Matt Ingram joins Championship new boys Oxford. The 30-year-old is an excellent character with plenty of experience at this level, making him a more than able deputy to Jamie Cumming.
Zan Celar (ST) - [FC Lugano - QPR] - Undisclosed
A Slovenian forward who impressed in Switzerland? Zan Celar is right up our street. The 25-year-old scored 40 goals in his three seasons at FC Lugano – more than any other Swiss Super League player in this time – and he’s capable of scoring many different types of goals. Celar should be able to cope with the physicality of the Championship, so if he can adapt, then this could be a bit of a coup for QPR.
League One
“Bristol Rovers have broken their transfer record to sign a pacy aerial threat with the potential to score goals…”
Willum Thor Willumson (AM) - [Go Ahead Eagles - Birmingham] - Undisclosed
It’s possible that this deal breaks the third-tier transfer record, but because of the mysterious world of undisclosed fees, we don’t know for certain.
Willum Thor Willumsson lands at St Andrew’s having played a pivotal role in Go Ahead Eagles’ stunning Eredivisie campaign, which ended with a surprise Conference League qualification. He’s a #10 but not in the usual mold: he is very tall and acts as a focal point, excelling at finding space where he shouldn't. He’ll bring others into play with flick-ons and lay offs, and he can play with his back to goal as well as he can running away from play.
Birmingham needed size and presence at the top end of the pitch. Willumsson provides that in abundance, and should perfectly compliment Messrs May, Hansson and Miyoshi.
Christophe Klarer (CB) - [Darmstadt - Birmingham] - Undisclosed
It’s probable that this deal breaks the third-tier transfer record that Birmingham’s other deal possibly broke.
Christophe Klarer is a man-mountain. Considered the best defender in 2.Bundesliga in 2022/23 when at Fortuna Dusseldorf, the former Austria Under-21 international is well-versed in the English game having spent his academy days with Southampton, where he was captain on occasion.
Birmingham’s centre-back options of Klarer, Bielik, Sanderson and possibly Buchanan are superb for the level.
Promise Omochere (RW/ST) - [Fleetwood - Bristol Rovers] - Undisclosed
Speaking of transfer records, Bristol Rovers have broken theirs by paying a reported £500,000 fee (give or take a few thou) for Promise Omochere, their 11th signing of the summer. The Irishman, who was also linked with Wrexham and Barnsley, has been given a 3+1 contract and, significantly, the No.9 shirt, which hints at a central role for a player who spent the majority of Fleetwood’s 2023/24 campaign on the right wing but had previously impressed as a No.9 with Bohemians.
So, what do the Gas get for half a mill? A pacy aerial threat, for sure, but also the potential for goals: the 23-year-old may have netted only half a dozen last season but he was denied twice by the woodwork and several more times by excellent goalkeeping – he looks for the corners, and that’s no bad thing. It’s a shot-map that shows… well, Promise.
Ivan Inzoudine (LB) - [Chambly Oise - Burton] - Undisclosed
A 27-year-old left-back signed from France’s fourth tier, heading straight on loan to Kalmar FF in Sweden... what fun!
This is for work permit reasons: Ivan Inzoudine wouldn’t be eligible to play for Burton right now, but if he plays just five games in the Allsvenskan, which finishes in November, then he should be able to represent the Brewers in the second half of the season. Smart. The proof will be in the pudding, though, and Inzoudine hasn’t played an enormous amount of football for a guy who’ll turn 28 before Burton get him back.
Jojo Wollacott (GK) - [Hibernian - Crawley] - Undisclosed
In last Thursday’s bulletin, we told you that Crawley were hinting at another goalkeeping addition. Well, here he is. Jojo Wollacott previously played under Scott Lindsay in an impressive spell with Swindon; subsequent moves to Charlton and Hibs didn’t go so well but the 27-year-old Ghana international, who also has a relationship with Crawley goalkeeping coach Steve Hale, will have familiar faces to help him rediscover his best form.
Sean Clare (RB) - [Wigan - Leyton Orient] - Undisclosed
Though this’ll be Sean Clare’s first time with Leyton Orient, it’s a sort of homecoming for the 27-year-old, who grew up in nearby Hackney. He’ll offer the O’s decent 1v1 defending as well as some tactical flexibility, being able to play at RB, RCB, RWB and CM, and Richie Wellens has said as much: “He can cover several areas for us, has a lot of pace and athleticism, is a good size and a very good footballer.”
Having stacks of League One experience is always useful in a squad player, too, although Clare’s so-so delivery from wide areas means he might not be Mr Impact off the bench.
Dom Jefferies (CM/LM) - [Gillingham - Lincoln] - Undisclosed
Formerly of Brentford B, Dom Jefferies heads to Lincoln after two years at Gillingham. The 22-year-old Welshman, who can play in the centre of midfield or on the left, runs all day and is excellent out of possession – he just needs to provide more in the way of goals and assists.
Tom Hamer (RB/LB) - [Burton - Lincoln] - Undisclosed
A solid servant to the Brewers for a number of seasons, Tom Hamer is a nice addition to a Lincoln squad lacking wing-back options on both sides. Handily, Hamer can do both, though not at the same time. You have to look beyond the numbers but the 24-year-old – predominantly right-sided but capable on the left – provides a touch of a goal threat as well, both from set-pieces and from his runs into the box in open play.
George Wickens (GK) - [Fulham - Lincoln] - Free (compensation)
Following the departure of Lukas Jensen to Millwall, 22-year-old George Wickens looks set to be Lincoln’s new No.1. A product of Fulham’s academy, the former England Under-18 international impressed on loan at Wealdstone and Ross County. He made an instant impact north of the border with a double penalty save against Celtic and a new Scottish record for the number of saves in a match, making 19 against Rangers. Yes, nineteen.
Esapa Osong (ST) - [Nottingham Forest - Rotherham] - Loan
Comparable to Sinclair Armstrong in style, Esapa Osong is a regular goalscorer in PL2. He is a strong, physical, bull-like runner with endless energy, and although his game requires some refinement, it’s no surprise that his first loan comes in League One. He brings a welcome freshness to Rotherham’s forward options by offering a different profile to Jonson Clarke-Harris, Jordan Hugill and Sam Nombe.
John Marquis (ST) - [Bristol Rovers - Shrewsbury] - Free
Maybe it’s harsh to say that John Marquis’ ability has been on the decline since he left Portsmouth in the summer of 2022, but it’s definitely true that his minutes have. In total, 40 of his 71 Bristol Rovers appearances over the past two seasons have come from the substitutes’ bench. Currently, Shrewsbury’s only other forward option is George Lloyd, so they desperately need Marquis, 32, to be a focal point and to show that he is capable of more than just bench cameos.
Tyrese Francois (CM) - [Fulham - Wigan] - Free
A small, technical, determined midfielder, Tyrese Francois will be hoping to kickstart his career in League One. After making his professional debut in August 2019, he made only a handful of appearances for Fulham, mostly in the League Cup, and while loan spells in Croatia and Denmark have allowed the Australian to gain a bit more experience, there’s no getting away from the fact that barely 40 senior appearances isn’t enough first-team football for a 24-year-old. There’s plenty of potential upside for Wigan here, but Francois’ lack of minutes up to this point is a concern.
League Two
“Without wanting to put too much pressure on the 17-year-old, Darlington fans reckon Matty Young was better than Jordan Pickford was at a similar age…”
Lewis Ward (GK) - [Charlton - AFC Wimbledon] - Free
The one transfer that’s slipped through the net of our bulletins so far, and here’s why:
It’s 20:18. Harry Kane is about to step up to a penalty to draw England level in a European Championship semi-final. Everyone will remember where they were at this exact moment… especially the AFC Wimbledon admin, who thought this was the exact time to announce Lewis Ward as a new signing. He will be Dons’ second-choice goalkeeper behind Owen Goodman.
We promised that we would cover every single transfer, and even if it’s a little after the fact, we couldn’t live with ourselves if we hadn’t added this momentous signing.
Kamarl Grant (CB) - [Millwall - Bromley] - Loan
The latest player to return to Bromley this summer, Kamarl Grant rejoins Andy Woodman’s Ravens for the 2024/25 season. Grant broke into the Bromley side towards the back end of their promotion-winning campaign and never looked back: comfortable bringing the ball out of defence and a real threat from set pieces, the 21-year-old was one of the standout performers in the National League play-offs.
Harrison Sohna (CM) - [Unattached - Cheltenham] - Free
A former Aston Villa and Sunderland youth product, the left-footed central midfielder has been without a club since he was released by Sunderland in the summer of 2023. A year later, Harrison Sheriff Sohna – a Gloucester-born boyhood Cheltenham fan – has done enough during a week’s trial with the Robins, in which he featured in three pre-season matches, to earn himself a one-year deal and another crack at senior football. Isn’t that lovely?
Lewis Payne (RB/CB) - [Southampton - Cheltenham] - Loan
Southampton youngster Lewis Payne goes back to League Two for another loan, having spent last season with Newport County. The 20-year-old defender had an opportunity to go to a League One club, but opted for Cheltenham in League Two to be sure of getting more minutes under his belt. Competition with Arkell Jude-Boyd will be tough, however, and one of them may have to settle for playing in their secondary role on the left.
Filip Marschall (GK) - [Aston Villa - Crewe] - Loan
Filip Marschall gets another League Two loan after a miserable end-of-season spell at MK Dons, where errors cost him a starting spot. With his modern goalkeeper profile, Marschall excels at distribution and ball-playing, but his fundamentals have been questioned, and his future in the game depends on him finding a better balance between goalkeeper and footballer. He is only 21 and under a long-term contract at Aston Villa, so there’s time – but they’ll be expecting a much better loan spell in this year’s League Two.
Harvey Macadam (CM/RW) - [Fleetwood - Morecambe] - Free
A tall, rangy midfielder, Harvey Macadam has struggled to establish himself in the senior game since joining Fleetwood in the January 2022 transfer window. He finished last season on loan at Waterford, where he was mainly used from off the bench. His profile is appealing – height, strength, good running style – but he needs to start producing to a consistent level on the pitch.
Jamie Jones (GK) - [Wigan - Salford] - Free
After a frustrating year at Middlesbrough, Jamie Jones jumped at the chance to join Salford. Now 35, he’s best known for his spells with Leyton Orient and more recently Wigan Athletic, where he brokered a deal to buy the training ground and sold his League One winners’ medal in order to try and keep the club afloat. Good egg.
Matty Young (GK) - [Sunderland - Salford] - Loan
Less than an hour after posting about the arrival of Jamie Jones, Salford announced another goalkeeper: Matty Young. Without wanting to put too much pressure on the 17-year-old, Darlington fans reckon Young was better than Jordan Pickford was at a similar age, and plenty of Mackems have pencilled him in already as their next No.1.
Jon Taylor (RW) - [Doncaster - Salford] - Free
What better way is there to celebrate your birthday than having Karl Robinson shove a one-year contract in front of you? There can’t be many! Following a successful trial, the newly-32 Taylor signs after a season with division rivals Doncaster, where he featured in fewer than 90 minutes of league football. The wideman wasn’t much more active in the two seasons prior, either – in fact, he has played only 495 minutes of league football across the last three seasons combined. Taylor needs to prove he isn’t plagued by injury. Still… many happy returns.
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