Done Deals: Charlton loan Harry Clarke, Argyle land Ronan Curtis, and Danilo Orsi's back at Crawley – plus Gab Sutton on Andy Cook's return to Grimsby...
Every day from Tuesday to Saturday, NTT20.COM writes-up and rates every single signing in the Championship, League One, and League Two.
Contributors include: Ali Maxwell, George Elek, Sam Parry, Huw Davies, Riley Roberts, Matt Watts, Craig Bradley, Gab Sutton and Luke “LouOrns” McKenzie.
Per the calendar, we’re almost at the half-way point of the window. By the number of transfers, we are much closer to the beginning than we are to the end.
Today, we start the week with Gab Sutton on Grimsby’s catch of the day…
🟢 Andy Cook (ST) - [Bradford - Grimsby] - Loan
Grimsby’s League Two promotion bid has been undermined by dropped points in games they have shaded, if not dominated. Wasteful finishing, among other things, has plagued David Artell’s side. They have turned to experience to remedy their issues in front of goal by borrowing Andy Cook from Bradford.
Town are not short of forward options. Jude Soonsup-Bell carries youth-level pedigree, Jaze Kabia has scored seven since joining from Truro, Danny Rose is League Two proven, and hot prospect Cam Gardner is still to return.
Cook, though, provides what arguably none of them do convincingly: a killer instinct. He has scored 86 goals in 212 games at this level, while also offering graft and physicality. A lengthy injury for the 35-year-old leaves some doubt over which version of him Grimsby will get, but he has contributed enough since returning at Bradford to suggest he can still perform.
The way Artell’s side play generates regular 2v1s out wide, which should lead to plenty of crossing opportunities for a target man. It’s a dimension that his successful Crewe side previously exploited with Chris Porter and Mikael Mandron.
The Mariners have been marinating nicely all season. Now they are ready to Cook.
🟠 Harry Clarke (RB) - [Ipswich - Charlton] - Loan
With James Bree’s loan coming to an end, Nathan Jones moves to bring in a versatile defender with strong pedigree. Yes, Harry Clarke has started only 10 games in the past 12 months – thought it’s four in the top flight for Ipswich and six on loan at Sheffield United. Yes, he lacks the attacking threat of Bree. And yes, given his injury record, his impact cannot be rated higher than amber. But…
There is always a ‘but’, and in this case it is the simple fact that Clarke was an instrumental part of the Ipswich side that were promoted from the Championship less than two years ago, operating both at right-back and as the right-sided centre-back in a three. Without the injuries, he almost certainly would not be making this move.
On the pitch, the 24-year-old is a tireless, aggressive defender with a strong leap, and at his best can also provide energy and thrust down the right. For now, that ability remains somewhat theoretical, but regular minutes under Nathan Jones feels like a sensible platform for Clarke to rebuild momentum and prove himself between now and the end of the season.
🟠 Zander Clark (GK) - [Hearts - Doncaster] - Loan
Ian Lawlor has left to sign for Crewe (see below). That left Donny in need of a keeper to compete with fellow loanee Thimothée Lo-Tutala, who lost his place to Lawlor after conceding nine goals in two games prior to Christmas. Clark arrives having not played since August, relegated to third choice at a title-chasing Hearts side behind Alexander Schwolow and the evergreen Craig Gordon, who is 43. That must be even harder to Schwolow.
Opinions on Clark’s current level vary north of the border, but he will inarguably offer Doncaster two things. One: great experience, having made nearly 250 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, Europa League and Conference League for St Johnstone and then Hearts. And two: some excoriating Scottish feedback to his defenders. Grant McCann said, “I think what he’ll add to us is a voice, because we are a really quiet group and sometimes you want to give them a rocket.”
🟠 Elliot Moore (CB) - [Unattached - Northampton]
With Jordan Thorniley’s loan coming to an end, Northampton Town needed a centre-back this window, and who better to replace their Oxford loanee than a former Oxford captain?
Moore has been out of the game since September, and his LinkedIn profile, which notes a transition into “investment and business” after nearly two decades in football, raised a fair question about whether he had stepped away from the professional game altogether.
That said, he is back now with Northampton and has previously proven himself to be a top operator at this level, with his aerial ability a clear standout. While footballing ability points to this deal being something of a coup, fitness is going to have a big hand in how he fares.
🟠 Ronan Curtis (LW) - [Port Vale - Plymouth] - Undisclosed
Prior to the window opening, director of football Derek Adams spoke about the need to add goals from wide areas to Plymouth Argyle’s squad. The player he has identified is Curtis, 29, who arrives in Devon on a contract running until 2028.
Curtis offers a different profile to Plymouth’s existing wide options – Bali Mumba, Xavier Amaechi, Tegan Finn, Owen Dale and Freddie Issaka – who collectively provide legs, heft and ball-carrying. They have managed just three league goals between them this season, all scored by Amaechi. Curtis is most likely to operate on the opposite flank, competing with the often-maligned Mumba for a starting spot.
His output since leaving Portsmouth, in spells with AFC Wimbledon and Port Vale, has not matched his peak, but his three consecutive double-figure goal seasons at this level for Pompey offer a clear reference point. This move requires faith in historic form, and belief that Tom Cleverley can turn Adams’ vision into something tangible, but there is a clear logic to it.
⏳ Killian Barrett (GK) - [Sheffield Wednesday - Barrow] - Undisclosed
Barrett joins Barrow primarily as cover for the injured Ben Winterbottom. The 21-year-old has first-team experience in the National League with Solihull Moors, Rochdale and Boston United, which should prove useful if he is called upon, although it would likely take further injuries for that to happen.
🟠 Kofi Balmer (CB) - [Motherwell - Bristol Rovers] - Loan
After Steve Evans cut short the loan deals of two centre-backs last week, Balmer arrives to reinforce League Two’s second-leakiest defence. The 25-year-old is not a traditional, box-defending centre-half and is unlikely to be relied upon as the first point of contact for long balls.
Instead, he profiles as a more dynamic option: quick enough for the level, willing to step in, make tackles and throw himself in front of shots. He also brings a useful long throw, proven here during his time at AFC Wimbledon, and can provide cover at right-back. Add it all together and there is enough upside here: the Gas defence was running on fumes; now it isn’t.
Oh, and in case you were wondering if Evans gave us his usual line… of course he did.
🟢 Danilo Orsi (ST) - [Wimbledon - Crawley] - Undisclosed
To say Crawley Town have been busy in January would be an understatement: Orsi’s return makes him their eighth addition of the window already. With Klaidi Lolos also returning last week, and another one of Scott Lindsey’s former charges rumoured to be joining them, it feels as though the manager is attempting to reassemble key parts of the squad that won promotion from this level in 2024.
Like Lolos, Orsi has not hit the same heights since leaving Crawley, but supporters know exactly what he can offer with the right service. Replicating that environment will be harder in a relegation fight. Crawley are winless in 11 but they have underperformed their xG by 7.7 this season, and Orsi’s finishing gives them a chance to turn some of those missed opportunities into goals.
🟢 Ian Lawlor (GK) - [Doncaster - Crewe]- Free
Crewe fans learned that Lawlor had joined from Doncaster when he was pictured in the matchday line-up on Saturday, and he quickly earned nods of approval. While conceding a 93rd-minute equaliser after being booked for timewasting may not sound like an encouraging debut, Lawlor had earlier made two excellent saves and he deserved a clean sheet.
His signing could arguably be seen as harsh on academy lad Tom Booth, who lost his place to loanee Sam Waller (now sent back to Burnley) a month ago despite stopping shots largely in line with what one would expect, statistically speaking. But, given Crewe’s propensity to play youngsters in goal – in the past three and a half seasons they’ve had Arthur Okonkwo, James Beadle, Harvey Davies, Filip Marschall, Waller and Booth, all aged 19 to 22 – Lee Bell may simply have decided that it’s time to pick an experienced and vocal presence there instead. Lawlor, 31, will provide that.
🟠 Henry Gray (GK) - [Ipswich - Harrogate] - Loan
“Where do you fancy for your first EFL loan, Henry? We were thinking of the team who give up the most xG in League Two, sat in the relegation zone, where you’ll replace a club legend in James Belshaw. Sound good?”
Fortunately, Gray – who had a New Zealand call-up in 2023 and may have an eye on their World Cup squad – is used to new situations. Born in Germany to English parents, he moved to New Zealand as a boy, broke through in the second tier there, moved to Ipswich, impressed on loan in the National League South and then again in the National League, being named Braintree Town’s player of the year during his half-season there, and now he’s in at Harrogate… and he’s still only 20. He also wrote Gray’s Anatomy (the 19th-century medical textbook, not the inexplicably long-running TV show), although it’s possible that was a different Henry Gray.
🟠 Beck-Ray Enoru (RW/LW/ST) - [Tamworth - Notts County] - Undisclosed
The first of our Transfer Targets series to move in January! Here’s what Ryan Deeney had to say about Beck-Ray Enoru, the player:
“His speed is a game-changer and it sets him apart. The difference across the last year or so is how he uses that speed – it’s in the timing of his runs and willingness to get into the box, as well as improvement in his technique. He remains raw.
“Tamworth play in a way that enables Enoru to avoid playing under too much physical pressure, avoiding him in build-up so his slight frame doesn’t have to deal with taking the ball under pressure in tight spaces that could lead to turnovers. He also has room to improve in terms of his conditioning, given that he has never played professionally.”
This feels like the next chapter in a fantastic footballing story. Enoru moved from Cameroon to Leicestershire at 16. Two years ago, he was playing seventh-tier football with Barwell. Twelve months ago, he was working at Zara, playing part-time for Tamworth, and causing Pedro Porro real problems in the FA Cup. Now, he is a full-time professional.
It has been interesting to watch Notts County evolve under Martin Paterson. The shape remains broadly the same – a back three with wing-backs and an emphasis on control – but the approach is now more pragmatic and cautious. Defensively more dependable, yes, but also less exciting, particularly at wing-back, where output in the final third has been limited this season. Enoru is likely to see his first minutes there, on either side.
The orange flags are clear: the step up to full-time football, and refinement needed both in deeper build-up and final actions. But it is equally clear that Enoru will inject pace, unpredictability and fun into this Notts County side, while creating more opportunities for Matthew Dennis and Alassana Jatta in the final third.
A keeper-heavy start to the week…