Done Deals: Hull bag Debayo, Chesterfield triple up – plus LouOrns on arrivals at Norwich and Crawley
Every day from Tuesday to Saturday, NTT20.COM writes-up and rates every single signing in the Championship, League One, and League Two.
Done Deals provides analysis and ratings for every signing in the EFL. The bulletin will be published Tuesday-Saturday mornings throughout the January Transfer Window. Contributors include: Ali Maxwell, George Elek, Sam Parry, Huw Davies, Riley Roberts, Matt Watts, Craig Bradley, Gab Sutton and Luke “LouOrns” McKenzie.
Let’s begin with Lou on two…
Luke McKenzie: I had planned on writing one eye-catching signing from each of the Championship, League One, and League Two. However, the third tier hasn’t played ball with a grand total of zero transfers since Saturday. Just the two then…
I think we can sometimes get caught up in identifying the ‘best’ player, rather than the best ‘fit’ for a team in January, or a pick-up that could potentially prove valuable in the future. After all, the winter window is often about rectifying mistakes made in the summer, responding to a significant injury, or adding depth. And if you are in a relegation battle or fighting for promotion, you might push the boat out a little.
🟢 Ali Ahmed (LW) - [Vancouver Whitecaps - Norwich City] - Undisclosed
Norwich have been in the market for left-wing depth since it was announced that Papa Amadou Diallo had picked up a long-term injury. In terms of fit for what Philippe Clement wants, and how they have been playing so far, there are few players stylistically better suited to the current setup than Ali Ahmed.
Due to the nature of his game, the 25-year-old has been used across a number of positions: as an attacking midfielder, winger, central midfielder, and even at left-back. Ahmed is relentless out of possession, and his engine allows him to be a very strong ball carrier at speed.
This season, he has shown himself to be a creative winger, using that pace to get on the outside and deliver crosses into the box on a consistent basis. While his crossing is not always precise, his speed enables him to reach dangerous areas and create opportunities, often by slipping passes inside. Even when the end product is not perfect, the relentlessness with which he attempts to make things happen sees him rack up assists — underlined by eight of them this season. One wrinkle: because he is very ‘carry-over-pass’ dominant, he is not a significant goal threat when it comes to shooting.
🟠 Johnny Russell (LB) - [Glentoran - Crawley Town] - Undisclosed
Johnny Russell has been spoken about in Northern Irish circles for some time, particularly since Warren Feeney suggested he could one day be a future Glens captain when he was just 18. Russell backed up that promise by winning the Player of the Season award in 2023/24, becoming the youngest player ever to do so in the club’s history.
As a player, he fits the modern full-back profile well: bundles of energy, the ability to get up and down the flank with ease, a decent cross, and a long throw to complement it. However, after his Player of the Year campaign, he found himself in and out of the Glentoran side, making just one start so far this season. He also still needs to grow into his body to cope with the physical demands of League Two football, but there is no reason why, once adapted, he cannot become a mainstay in the side. He made his debut on Sunday at LWB and will be hoping Crawley, the busiest team in the transfer window so far, can hit a groove soon
⏳James Debayo (CB) - [Leeds - Hull] - Free
After training with the club in recent months, James Debayo has joined Hull on an initial 18-month deal with an option for a further year. The 20-year-old former England U18 international had been without a club since leaving Leeds in the summer.
