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00:30 - Ali Maxwell
We're calling it a night. Any clubs announcing deals after 0030 don't deserve to have them live-blogged! Goodnight, everyone. What a thrill it's been. Thanks for all your support and positive energy in the comments.
Sam, Huw, Craig, Ryan and Matt have been the most incredible partners for George and myself today. I’m so proud of what we’ve put together. It was planned and executed with Carlos Corberan-esque precision.
So much beer, pizza and fried chicken consumed. And what feels like a million transfers (but was actually 94).
The adrenaline is flooding out of my body and I'm not sure what's left behind is enough to keep me alive. But I hope it is, because I can't wait to read this back in the morning!
If you enjoyed what we created today, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to NTT20.COM. There's plenty more where this came from.
Wycombe move away from their usual profile of centre-back and bring in Nigel Lonwijk.
The Dutch defender will be partaking in his fourth loan away from Molineux with spells at Fortuna Sittard and Grasshoppers sandwiching a season at Plymouth Argyle where he was part of the League One winning squad.
Lonwijk has a tendency to step in front of his forward in an attempt to nick the ball before carrying play into midfield. When it comes off it looks wonderful. When it doesn’t, well… “wanderer” would be an apt description.
VERDICT: ON THE FENCE
00:15 - Huw Davies
Fun Fact: There have been more transfers since 9pm (48) than there were before 9pm (45).
00:11 - Ali Maxwell
Sean McGurk (AM) - [Leeds - Swindon] - Free
Swindon's late flurry of attacking additions goes a long way to filling the Dan Kemp/Jake Young void, adding McGurk to Harry McKirdy, Aaron Drinan and Paul Glatzel.
Getting McGurk permanently has raised the eyebrows of Leeds United observers, who have noted with interest his strong performances for the U21s this season, racking up plenty of goals and assists.
With quick feet and an eye for a spectacular goal, McGurk joined Leeds from Wigan and has had an excellent youth career — time to see if he can bring the noise at senior level.
Charlie Wyke credited Leam Richardson with helping save his life following a cardiac arrest in 2021, making this reunion even more heart-warming.
Richardson has taken on the task of keeping Rotherham United in the Championship and has called upon the 31-year-old to help improve a side that have struggled badly for goals or any kind of attacking verve.
Wyke has had a positive season at Wigan, scoring 7 goals in 18 appearances (12 starts) and he will provide competition for Jordan Hugill in attack. It's hard to see the pair starting alongside each other and Rotherham will need to get the ball forward in dangerous areas to get the best from the pair. It's probably not going to be enough.
VERDICT: A NICE STORY
00:01 - George Elek
Max Bird (CM) - [Bristol City - Derby County] - Undisclosed and loaned back
It’s a travesty that a player of Max Bird’s ability, who broke into Derby’s side when they were in the Championship, has found himself in League One for the last 18 months. He now follows in the footsteps of his fellow academy graduate Jason Knight, who has had a great start to life at Bristol City.
Bird is a tenacious midfielder whose ball-playing tendencies have been somewhat lost in a Paul Warne side playing next to the mercurial Conor Hourihane. His current role involves doing two players’ running, while his creative wings have been clips to enable Conor to fly, but we saw under both Rooney and Rosenior that his sweet left-foot, long-passing range and vision make him an effective deep-lying playmaker.
He’ll stay at Derby until the end of the season, which is a shame for City fans as he’s ready to slot into Liam Manning’s side now, but this is another smart move from a side who look to be building an impressive squad for next season.
VERDICT: LOVE IT
23:59 - Sam Parry
John Fleck (CM) - [Sheffield United - Blackburn] - Undisclosed
John Fleck is rightly regarded by Blades fans as one of their best signings of the past decade. Rising through the leagues — from League One to the top flight — the 32-year-old has been a pivotal part of several reincarnated midfields.
Over the past couple of seasons, injuries and competition has seen Fleck fall down the Bramall Lane pecking order, and at this juncture, the move makes sense for him.
At his best, Fleck moves box-to-box, makes tackles, keeps it simple when he can, passes in tight spaces, and presses effectively. After a couple of leg breaks and a lack of minutes, it’s hard to assess his level and I certainly don’t see him as a replacement for Wharton.
Rotherham have waited until deadline day to make their first signings of the January Window, but this is one that I like (at least from the player's perspective).
Femi Seriki is a physical, athletic wingback. As of last week, his pathway has been blocked at Bramall Lane by the Blades’ signing of 18-year-old Irish wonderkid Sam Curtis. So Seriki needed to get out on loan, and in joining Rotherham he should get plenty of minutes in a challenging Championship environment.
For Sheffield United’s U23s, Seriki has stood out nicely, and it’s earned him not only an extended contract but minutes in the Championship (last season) and a semi-frequent spot on the bench in the top flight.
Seriki will likely be available for another loan again in the summer, and this is a great shop window for him.
A young defender still looking to make a name for himself in the English game after a number of loan spells at various clubs. Olagunju spent time at Ebbsfleet United earlier this season but it was difficult to get a good read on the 22-year-old given he was in and out of a team struggling for form and consistent selection.
The positive is that he will have played a relatively similar style of football at Ebbsfleet as he will at Crawley. It may stand him in good stead for the challenge that lies ahead.
VERDICT: ON THE FENCE
23:39 - Ryan Deeney
Kristian Pedersen (LB) - [Swansea City - Sheffield Wednesday] - Loan
Kristian Pedersen always felt very Michael Duff and very un-Swansea.
Here's a powerful full-back that is just as at home playing on the left-side of a back three. He's strong in the air, intercepts the ball well, can shift when he gets going and likes to be on the front foot defensively. He's also clunky on his feet, prone to being flat-footed, struggles in 1v1s and panics under pressure in possession.
Sheffield Wednesday have tightened up under Danny Rohl so adding a competent Championship full-back should only support that. The one-time Danish international should provide some balance to a defence that has often lacked a natural on the left-hand side.
VERDICT: FEELS RIGHT
23:36 - Craig Bradley
Jordan Thomas (RW) - [Bath City - Cheltenham Town] - Undisclosed
We’ve already seen a top National League North prospect in Jamie Jellis step up to League Two in this window. Now one of the hottest prospects in the South step up; this time to League One, this time with Cheltenham Town.
Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s a massive leap. But Thomas has had multiple scouts from the Championship watching him, somebody was always going take a chance on him.
Thomas is an inverted right winger, not lightning fast but skilful and technical with a tendency to cut inside and get a shot off. The only thing that lowers my excitement is that it’s not obvious where he’ll fit into Darrell Clarke’s preferred system.
But how can you not love this move for a lad who was playing Southern League South football for North Leigh last season?
VERDICT: (IF YOU HAVEN’T GUESSED ALREADY - LOVE IT)
The first loan for a player with a burgeoning reputation at Arsenal, Edwards is a striker who is said to link play well and have an eye for goal, who can also drop in and play as a #10.
With Ruel Sotiriou’s early season goal-scoring form dropping off and that burden currently landing squarely on the capable shoulders of Dan Agyei, this looks like an area where Orient are wise to add another body and, on paper, Edwards looks an exciting prospect.
VERDICT: FIRST LOAN SO WHO KNOWS?
23:32 - Matt Watts
Joe Hodge (CM) - [Wolverhampton Wanderers to QPR] - Loan
A hodge-podge is a confused mixture of different things – a bit like QPR’s first-team squad. The transitions from Beale to Critchley to Ainsworth to Cifuentes haven’t helped the Rs, who currently find themselves beneath the dotted line in the Championship. However, in Joe Hodge, they might have found someone who can help them to get out of their current predicament.
The former Manchester City academy player is small in stature but big in heart. His passing range is excellent and he gets around the pitch with ease. Yet he has found first-team opportunities at Wolves hard to come by, and it’s time for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 captain to get some minutes at senior level.
Fittingly, the 21-year-old is currently on the Wolves bench for their Premier League match against Manchester United. No, seriously, right now. Go and look if you like.
Bristol Rovers have got themselves a Costa Rican genie in a bottle!
A small, lefty, skilful midfielder to pop into Gas' midfield... wait, didn't I just write that about Harry Vaughan?
I asked the NTT20 Squad about Aguilera:
"His work rate is great, got that feisty South American bite in him." Like that.
"Scored a couple of unbelievable goals for Costa Rica too." Tell me more.
"I’d say it could be one of the signings of the window if they can get it done." Dirrty.
The NTT20 Squad is the football equivalent of the 'knowledgeable Crucible crowd’. And they've got me all hot under the collar.
VERDICT: BEAUTIFUL.
23:25 - Huw Davies
Connor Roberts (RB) - [Burnley - Leeds United] - Loan
In one circle: Premier League Welshmen seeking Championship match action ahead of March’s Euro 2024 play-off (David Brooks, Kieffer Moore, potentially Neco Williams). In another circle: Leeds signing Welsh talent (Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Daniel James). A third circle: Leeds needing a right-back to relieve the burden on 17-year-old Archie Gray's poor, tired legs. And in the middle of this perfectly sculpted Venn Diagram: one Connor Roberts.
This is a very good signing. Roberts has shown top-end Championship ability before, particularly with Burnley last season, and should fit in snugly at Leeds with countryman Dan James holding the width in front of him. Roberts is reliable in defence, particularly when defending transitions, but is happy to also get forward and either put in crosses or attack the box if he has cover behind him.
Stoke City have shown improvement under the guidance of Steven Schumacher but goals remain an issue with strikers Ryan Mmaee, Dwight Gayle, Tyrese Campbell and Wesley failing to have the desired impact. Their top scorer has scored just five league goals.
Sometimes, you just have to go with what you know and Schumacher has done just that by bringing Niall Ennis to the Potteries.
Ennis played an important role in helping Schumacher's Plymouth Argyle to the League One title last season, scoring 12 goals. He didn't always start but Schumacher adores the 24-year-old and it's a move that should help reignite his confidence after a tough six months with Blackburn, owing to injury, loss of form and lack of opportunity.
VERDICT: REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD
23:20 - Ali Maxwell
Anass Zaroury (LW) - [Burnley - Hull] - Loan
The Hull All-Stars add another blue chip attacking player.
"Smooth Anass", as he was known on the pod, glides with the ball and oozes flair and technique. But he's no luxury player: he was effective, too, notching 7 goals and 6 assists in 26.1 90s last season.
Note to future opposition: I think Hull might attack down the left a fair bit. Ryan Giles (insanely attacking left back), Anass Zaroury (inverted left-winger), Jaden Philogene (inverted left-winger), Fabio Carvalho (left-bias attacking midfielder).
I'm not entirely sure how that will work in practice, and personally I feel a right-sided attacker would have led to more balance — perhaps even a Dribbly Belgian called Manuel — but he's here now and we're never sad when good players drop back into our remit.
VERDICT: ANOTHER STATEMENT SIGNING, PRESSURE ON NOW!
With Aaron Ramsey yet to return from injury, Cardiff have a creativity void in attacking midfield, so they’ve grabbed Turnbull by the horns. The Scot comes with initial Peter Whittingham vibes (set-piece proficiency, scorer of worldies), but a closer comparison might be Lee Tomlin (magic over movement) – though with Cardiff hardly lacking for midfield runners, that won’t necessarily be a problem.
Turnbull is 24 and his Celtic contract was set to expire in the summer, reducing his price, so this is sensible business by Cardiff. He’s been prolific in the Scottish Premiership, scoring 15 goals in a season at Motherwell in 2018/19 and registering three consecutive double-figure goal-’n’-assist seasons with Celtic at a fairly regular rate. He’s a threat from range as well. If he isn’t shooting, he’s passing, and if he isn’t passing, he’s unhappy.
VERDICT: FUN
23:18 - George Elek
Harry McKirdy (ST) [Hibernian - Swindon Town] - Loan
If there are some doubts as to Drinan’s quality, the same cannot be said of former Swindon badboy McKirdy, who makes a dramatic return to the club where he scored 20 league goals in 21/22, before missing the all-important penalty in their play-off semi-final against Port Vale.
With McKirdy it’s more about the man than the footballer, with the move north of the border turning out to be an unmitigated disaster given he is yet to find the net in a Hibs shirt. Returning to a fanbase who know him and, to an extent, ‘get him’, might just be what he needs to reignite that spark. Swindon fans might be the only people who agree with McKirdy about how good he is, and they really need their pantomime villain to steal the Swindon show again.
VERDICT: MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
23:17 - George Elek
Ephron Mason-Clark (LW) - [Peterborough United - Coventry City] - Undisclosed/ loan back
Posh fans will be devastated to lose a player who has been so integral to their flying first-half of the season, with 10 goals and five assists so far, but to keep him for the promotion push is a significant bonus given he is good enough to impact Coventry’s own short-term ambitions.
An inside-forward and constant goal threat who is happy either carrying the ball inside to shooting positions or able to ghost into dangerous areas, it’s hard to see why Mason-Clark won’t thrive in a Coventry side where Mark Robins has coaxed the best out of Callum O’Hare and summer signing Tatsuhiro Sakamoto.
Having initially signed from non-league Barnet, Mason-Clark is now 24 years-old, so not a starlet who’ll be a project for the future, and both he and the buying club will hope that he’s a Premier League player by the time he pulls on a sky blue shirt.
VERDICT: EVERYONE’S A WINNER
23:15 - Ali Maxwell
Duncan McGuire (ST) - [Orlando City - Blackburn Rovers] - Loan deal with the option to buy.
This concludes one of the more dramatic transfer sagas of the window. McGuire was reportedly wanted by Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers. He was reportedly flying over to England when the Rovers deal 'fell through'. Internet sleuths tracked him down to a hotel in Sheffield, perhaps in talks with Wednesday?
No. It's Rovers after all. With that sweet, sweet Adam Wharton money burning a hole in their pocket, they've... signed him on a loan with an option to buy.
McGuire is certainly in The Striker Mould we've been talking about. Tall, strong, hard-working and keen to run channels. He scored 13 non-penalty goals in his debut MLS season, at 0.84 per 90, from 5.3 xG. Good finishing.
McGuire hasn't played a competitive game for over two months, but an instant impact would be welcome — Rovers have won 1 of their last 10 in the league.
VERDICT: YEE-HAW!!! (SORRY)
23:13 Sam Parry
It’s thirteen minutes after the deadline. Nothing slamming shut here.
23:12 - Ryan Deeney
John Joe O'Toole (CB) - [Mansfield Town - AFC Wimbledon] - Loan
Nothing gets the blood pumping like signing a 35-year-old with six minutes of football under his belt this season.
AFC Wimbledon are in the battle for promotion so any additional nous can be important off the pitch as much as on it. However, many of a Mansfield Town persuasion believe O'Toole's legs have "gone", perhaps evidenced by his lack of game time this season and last.
Given Wimbledon's strength in numbers defensively, it remains unclear exactly where he will play. Experienced back-up and versatility, we suspect.
VERDICT: MEH
23:10 - Ali Maxwell
Harry Vaughan (AM/W) - [Hull City-Bristol Rovers] - Loan
This is intriguing. Vaughan was playing games for Oldham aged 17, got a jump up to Hull 12 months ago and made half a dozen starts before finding his pathway blocked.
I'm intrigued because I'm not entirely sure what position is natural to Vaughan. He played left midfield for Hull, and in a central attacking midfield role for Oldham. He's a short, nippy, technical type and we're looking forward to seeing if he nails down a spot in Matt Taylor's side.
VERDICT: FEELING VAUGHANY
23:06 - Craig Bradley
Zane Monlouis (CB) [Arsenal - Reading] - Loan
It is the smallest of celebrations considering their current circumstances but we’re all glad Reading have got an incoming. A centre-back was badly needed with Nathan Abbey and Tom McIntyre departing earlier in the window. Reading are getting a youth team captain, and clearly they need all the leadership they can get. We’ve said it before and we’ll keep saying it…
VERDICTS: LONG LIVE READING
23:05 - Huw Davies
Daniel Adu-Adjei (ST) - [Bournemouth - Leyton Orient] - Loan
Orient lack a like-for-like alternative if in-form attacker Dan Agyei becomes unavailable, so Orient have signed an in-form attacker named Dan Adu-Adjei. Lads, your 'comparable players' model isn't working how it should.
The Bournemouth loanee is an exciting pick-up, mind, with 13 goals in his last 10 youth-team appearances and a senior debut in the FA Cup – the first Bournemouth academy graduate to play in the first team since 2022. A converted winger, he's quick, eager and a far from faulty finisher. Starting in League One rather than League Two is tough for an 18-year-old, but it's also quite exciting.
In Jake Young, Swindon have already taken one striker struggling for goals and turned them into one of the most efficient marksmen in League Two, and they will now have to repeat the trick to replace him, with a player who has two in his last 2173 league minutes.
Drinan struck up a good partnership with Harry Smith for Orient in 21/22, scoring 13 League Two goals, and he will be tasked with doing most of the running for Charlie Austin thanks. There is a player in there, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen that quality and we’ll have to see it again before we believe it to be a smart addition.
VERDICT: ON THE FENCE
23:00 - Craig Bradley
Sydney van Hooijdonk (ST) [Bologna - Norwich City] - loan
Back in 2021, Bologna saw enough promise in Sydney van Hooijdonk to take him to Serie A as a free agent after the Dutch youngster spent two standout seasons with NAC Breda in the Eerste Divisie.
The move to a ‘Big 5’ league was too early in van Hooijdonk’s career and he struggled for game time, ending up back in the Netherlands with Heerenveen on loan. He flourished!
Van Hooijdonk scored 7 goals in 15 matches during the second half of the 2021/22 season and stayed at the club for the 2022/23 season where he finished third in the top scorers chart with 16 — more goals than Eredivisie stars Santiago Gimenez, Brian Brobbey and Vangelis Pavlidis.
Van Hooijdonk returned to Bologna for 2023/24 but the rise of his compatriot Joshua Zirkzee and Bologna’s stunning Champions League chasing form has meant that Van Hooijdonk hasn’t been able to force his way into the side. He’s been on the bench for every fixture but has only been introduced into the action on four occasions.
Norwich are getting themselves a predatory goalscorer who should adapt to the Championship without any hiccups. This is a bit of a coup for the Canaries.
VERDICT: LOVE IT
22:54 - Ryan Deeney
Andy Rinomhota (CM) - [Cardiff City - Rotherham United] - Loan
A much-needed addition in the middle of the park as Rotherham United finally open the pursestrings in the January window.
The Millers' midfield has been a little patched up for much of the season owing to a lack of natural balance, injury or inconsistent form so the arrival of Andy Rinomhota should help.
The 26-year-old's move to Cardiff hasn't worked out too well but the ex-Reading man is a bulldozer of a midfielder at his best and should offer experience and consistency in an important area of the pitch.
VERDICT: LIKE IT
22:49 - Ali Maxwell
Liam Smith (RB) [Cheltenham - Grimsby] - Loan
After the release of Michee Efete, Grimsby signing of a right-back was on the cards. Smith played over 100 league games for Dundee, gaining a reputation as a consistent 7/10 type that was good going forward.
Toby Mullarkey has played almost every minute recently, and now has stiff competition.
A 25-year-old winger who has spent four seasons in English football and started a grant total of 24 matches. His time at Norwich hasn't worked out as initally hoped.
This signing makes sense tactically. Placheta is rapid and Luke Williams' preferred style sees his wing-backs stay high and wide, ready to burst in behind at any moment.
The problem is that Placheta will be contending with Josh Tymon for a role at left-wing-back and the ex-Stoke man's delivery is superior. We're not sure Placheta will see too much game time.
VERDICT: OKAY BACK-UP
22:44 - Huw Davies
Jeremy Kelly (AM) - [Unattached - Crawley Town] - Free
Where to start? Jeremy Kelly, a 26-year-old Czechia-born American youth international, lands at Crawley in League Two less than a month after he joined and then left Tulsa in the US second tier, having walked out of Memphis in November. It’s entirely possible he’s gone to Crawley by accident. We’ve all done it.
The attacking midfielder is only on a short-term deal in Sussex, so there’s not much risk attached for Crawley, and for that reason, we’re excited to see how he gets on – or where he ends up in March.
VERDICT: 10/10 FOR FOOTBALL MANAGERNESS
22:42 - Ali Maxwell
Imari Samuels (LB) - [Brighton - Fleetwood]
A left-back to compete with Harry Boyes, Samuels came through at Reading before signing for Brighton. He went to the U20 World Cup with England in the summer, and now joins the Charlie Adam revolution at Fleetwood Town.
Losing three first teamers and replacing them with five players on Deadline Day, only one of whom has played senior EFL football. It's definitely what I would call 'an interesting approach' to staving off relegation.
VERDICT: WAIT AND SEE
22:42 - George Elek
Kayne Ramsey (RB) [Harrogate Town - Charlton Athletic] Undisclosed
Charlton look to be recruiting to play 3-5-2 and have been desperate for some quality in wide areas, and in Ramsey that’s a problem solved. His quality assist for Harrogate’s second goal in the midweek win at Sutton shows just how good he is on the ball, skipping inside before dropping a shoulder, standing two defenders up and then spotting the run of Jack Muldoon and executing the defence splitting pass perfectly.
He is more than just a flying full-back though, and is a more than capable one-on-one defender. It’s a big step to go from playing for Harrogate Town to the bear pit that is currently The Valley, but Ramsey is a smart signing in an area of need who offers Charlton exactly what they’ve been lacking.
VERDICT: LIKE IT
22:40 - Huw Davies
Ian Poveda (RW/LW) - [Leeds United - Sheffield Wednesday] - Loan
Danny Röhl’s been crying out for some energy in attack ever since he arrived at Hillsborough, and he seems to have it at last. Now, with Anthony Musaba and Djeidi Gassama needing some respite on the wings, he turns to Ian Poveda as a source of competition for the starting XI and some dribble-happy legs off the bench.
Is this Poveda’s last chance to prove himself in the Championship? Maybe that seems harsh, but he turns 24 next week, and in previous loans at Blackburn and Blackpool the winger has shown sparks without lighting fires. He needs some big performances here just as much as Sheffield Wednesday do.
It goes under the radar that Morecambe are a prime destination for clubs to send their youngsters to. They’ll be hoping that Larsson, a Swedish youth international, can have a similar impact in the second half of the season to what Michael Mellon had in the first. This is a lovely opportunity for Larsson to express himself in a non-pressured environment.
VERDICT: WHAT’S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?
22:34 - George Elek
Callum Styles (LWB/CM) - [Barnsley - Sunderland] - loan with option to buy
A Swiss/Hungarian army knife of a footballer, Styles' natural position is at LWB, but he is equally comfortable on the left side of a midfield three, in holding midfield, as an attacking midfielder, and can even play on the right side if needed. With bags of energy alongside quality on the ball, not to mention the ability to score from range, he is a manager's dream who showed in a loan spell at Millwall last season that he's more than capable of performing at Championship level.
At 23, he fits Sunderland's strategy of Hoovering up young talent but, unlike some of their recruits from around the world, Styles has well over 200 appearances already under his belt and will bring some EFL knowhow to a young Black Cats side. He hasn't been great for Barnsley this season, but he's a proven talent and should improve Sunderland wherever he is deployed.
McGrandles has been in English football for nearly a decade now and there's little denying that he played his best football during his two years at Lincoln City under Michael Appleton.
He couldn't help his former boss to better times at Charlton Athletic, nor Dean Holden or Ben Garner before that. A positive spell at Cambridge United showed he remains more than capable at this level, albeit we're not quite sure about the "Scottish Kaka" tag.
VERDICT: ONE FOR THE FANS
22:28 - Craig Bradley
Million Manhoef (RW) - [Vitesse - Stoke] - Undisclosed
Whoa! Stephen Schumacher signing a player in the mould of Morgan Whittaker. Watch Out.
Yesterday, respected Dutch journos were of the impression that Million Manhoef was signing for PSV Eindhoven. If PSV know one thing, it’s an inverted right winger. They went from Noni Madueke to Johan Bakayoko. Manhoef was supposed to be the succession plan. That should tell you what you need to know about the potential in Manhoef.
It’s believed Stoke have paid in the region of €4M for his signature. Not a small fee by any stretch but this deal has the potential to turn a big profit if Manhoef flourishes in the way I hope and expect.
There’s no reason he can’t. The Netherlands to the Championship is becoming a tried and tested route. Gus Hamer, Zion Flemming and Milan van Ewijk have all proved to be outstanding acquisitions after travelling the same journey.
VERDICT: LOVE IT
22:24 - Ryan Deeney
Jack Shepherd (CB) - [Barnsley - Cheltenham Town] - Loan
Jack Shepherd joined Barnsley from 8th-tier Pontefract Collieries in the summer and has performed well enough to earn League One start, including in their last outing against Exeter City where he played an important role at both ends of the pitch.
However, Barnsley are in a promotion race and football is a ruthless business. The signings of Donovan Pines and Josh Earl over the last few days mean Shepherd's opportunities are going to become more limited.
He remains in League One, joining Cheltenham Town in their battle against the drop. Shepherd comes across as the type of profile Darrell Clarke likes and this is a great opportunity for the 22-year-old to prove himself to an EFL audience.
VERDICT: HOPING IT WORKS OUT
22:19 - Sam Parry
Very short pizza break. Nduja want another transfer?
One of NTT20's most recognisable and descriptive nicknames — The Big Switch — makes another loan switch in two years. In the balmy days of August 2021, Kilkenny came from nowhere to start the first four games of Bournemouth's Championship campaign, and acquitted himself well: sitting at the base of midfield, spraying passes and snapping into tackles.
But after losing his spot, loans at Stoke and Charlton have gone poorly. He slides down to the basement of League One to a team winless in 12. But there must be minutes for him here, with Bosun Lawal playing in midfield recently, not a natural in those areas. Go and prove yourself, Big Switch.
VERDICT: GOOD ADDITION FOR FLEETWOOD
22:07 - Huw Davies
It's a thrilling 3-3 draw between energy drinks and pints for me today, but the beers are pushing for the lead. I'd describe it as end-to-end, but that sounds equally graphic and grim.
22:04 - Huw Davies
Dan Chesters (RM) - [West Ham United - Salford City] - Loan
Chesters, 21, has played all across the midfield for West Ham’s youth teams, but his experience playing as a wing-back for Colchester last season means that Salford may have signed him as a short-term replacement for Luke Bolton, who departed today (for Wrexham – he’s not dead).
Can Chesters have the same impact as Bolton? That’s a big ask, but the young Hammer does offer a lot going forward and Karl Robinson will likely give him licence to attack.
Plus, Chester’s population is four times the size of Bolton’s, so in that respect it’s an upgrade.
VERDICT: LIKE IT
Salford City - X
22.00 - Sam Parry
Only one hour of Transfer Deadline Day remains (theoretically at least). So, in a word, how are you feeling about your team’s window so far?
Neither Jak Alnwick nor Alex Runarsson have looked convincing in the Cardiff net, to the point that loanee Runarsson has been sent back to Arsenal, so in comes Ethan Horvath to have a go.
There won't be too much intricate passing required from the American – keeping the ball out of the net will be enough – so this move could suit him, while for Cardiff he's a clear upgrade on what they have. Horvath, 28, has also won promotion from the Championship two years running, with Nottingham Forest and then on loan at Luton; expecting a third with Cardiff might be asking a bit much, however.
VERDICT: LIKE IT
P.S. — As an aside, we are not in the Transfer Reporting game, but occasionally we dip our toe in the water, and this transfer maintains our 100% record at Notty Towers.
21:45 - George Elek
Jay Matete (CM) - [Sunderland - Oxford United] - Loan
Oxford fans were expecting a striker, but instead they find themselves with a midfielder who has won promotion out of League One in each of the last two seasons, and to me it looks like exactly what they need.
Matete is a rare combination of tireless work-rate, ability to break up play and ball-carrying ability that will give Oxford’s midfield a new dimension, whilst also allowing Marcus McGuane and Cameron Brannagan a much-needed rest.
He’s still 22 years old but surely doesn’t have a long-term future at The Stadium of Light, so Oxford could be putting themselves at the front of the queue in the summer for a player who has shown, twice, that he deserves a shot at the Championship.
Matete has also picked up 33 career yellows in his career, from just 5,743 minutes. This works out at a yellow card every 165 mins, or more than one every other game. That's a massive yes from us, especially as his lack of minutes this season so far means that, by our calculations, he can rack up 10 this season before getting a suspension.
VERDICT: LOVE IT
21:43 - Ali Maxwell
Derrick Abu (RB) - Southampton - Harrogate (Loan)
Do you want the good news or the bad news?
The bad news is that this signing suggests that Harrogate's right-back Kayne Ramsay --who has been excellent in the last few months — could be on his way out.
The good news is that Harrogate are following the same path that led them to Ramsay:
*Athletic right-back
*Schooled at Southampton
Abu was an England U17 international when in Chelsea's academy. He's joining a team that's absolutely flying, and we're excited to see him motoring up and down the flank.
VERDICT: FUN PROFILE, EXCITED TO SEE HIM
21:41 - Ali Maxwell
Finley Potter (CB) - [Sheff Utd - Fleetwood] - Permanent
Key defender Josh Earl left Fleetwood today. 19-year-old Potter is a tall, left-footed central defender. Fleetwood need him to step into Earl’s shoes as soon as possible, but it’s a big ask. Potter has been at Barnet on loan for the last 12 months, with good spells and tough spells.
I didn’t expect to be picking up Romaine Mundle vibes so soon after writing about him, yet here we are. Scotland youth international Dire Mebude is another who after an elite academy upbringing left the UK to start their senior career in Belgium.
Leggy and powerful, Mebude is direct and attacks his full-back inside and out. But where does a direct wideman fit into Manning’s Bristol City? Where?
VERDICT: WHERE?
21:37 - Ali Maxwell
Ed Turns (CB) - [Brighton - Crewe] - Loan
In their first game after Connor O'Riordan's departure for Blackburn, Crewe's centre-backs struggled to handle Big Matt Smith, who scored a hat-trick.
Luke Offord has found a new level in defensive midfield, but had to move back to partner Mickey Demetriou at the back with no other fit options. Now, Turns can slot in at RCB and Offord can resume his role as the Crewe Casemiro.
He pitched up at Orient in January last year to fill in for the absent Dan Happe and excelled. This feels like a great, necessary signing.
VERDICT: A REAL ED-TURNER
21:32 - Matt Watts
Isaac Hayden (CM) [Newcastle United to QPR] - Loan
It’s been ten minutes* since Isaac Hayden was part of Newcastle’s Championship-winning team.
*almost seven years
Hayden was a staple feature of both Rafa Benitez’s and Steve Bruce’s Newcastle, but times have changed on Tyneside and the Chelmsford-born midfielder no longer fits the bill.
Loan spells at Norwich and Standard Liege have come and gone with mixed success. The tough-tackling 28-year-old needs a home. Can Hayden reignite his career whilst also helping QPR to stay in the Championship? We’ll have to wait and see.
Cheltenham Town had a nightmare start in front of goal under Wade Elliott and though things have improved under Darrell Clarke, they clearly need more if they are going to cut the gap to 20th.
Clarke has already reunited with Matty Taylor, but he’ll be all too aware of the small and/or youthful stature of his forwards. That explains the logic behind a move for a more experienced and powerful option in Joe Nuttall.
This is a big opportunity for the 26-year-old, stepping back up the ladder after various indifferent spells at a number of clubs. Clarke will be gambling that if he can put an arm round the big man's shoulders, he can coax enough big performances to give his side a fighting chance.
Josh Earl has left Fleetwood today, so 19-year-old Elijah Campbell has a chance to make the LCB role there his own.
Thousands of youth-team minutes, first EFL loan, good on the ball but needs to experience men’s football… you’ve read all of this several times today, because we’re seeing these moves a lot. What makes Campbell different from most teenagers at an elite academy is that he’s content to stamp his authority on a team, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him taking command in a Fleetwood defence that can’t stop conceding goals.
VERDICT: GO ON MY SON
21:14 - Ali Maxwell
Georgie Kelly (ST) - [Rotherham - Carlisle] - Undisclosed
Georgie Kelly is an unusual case. He made 48 league appearances for Rotherham, but only ever four starts. He never played more than 60 minutes in a game. But he scored one of the most iconic goals in the club's history to make it 2-0, secure promotion and provoke bedlam in the away end.
Four goals in snatched minutes last season demonstrated a poacher's instinct, but due to the limit on his game-time, we still don't know for sure how robust he is, and how developed his all-round game is.
Great character and popular guy with a great back story, he'll fight with Sean Maguire and Daniel Butterworth for minutes alongside target man Luke Armstrong.
VERDICT: ON THE FENCE
20:55 - Ali Maxwell
Billy Koumetio (CB) - [Liverpool - Blackburn] - Loan
Koumetio is a 6’5, left-footed centre-back who was a rising star in Liverpool’s academy but has seemingly struggled on loan at Austria Vienna (three league starts) and USL Dunkerque (eight league starts).
With Dom Hyam, Hayden Carter (injured), Connor O'Riordan, Kyle MacFadzean, Scott Wharton and now French Billy, Blackburn now have quite the array of centre-backs.
Could JDT be going 3ATB?
VERDICT: LOW RISK, HIGH REWARD, PERHAPS UNLIKELY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE
It looked liked Saxon Earley’s stuttering Plymouth career was going to get a much-needed jump start in the summer.
Earley was one of Argyle’s top performers through pre-season, Stephen Schumacher was experimenting with inverted full backs and he was suited perfectly for the role. Then injury struck and Earley spent an extended period on the sidelines.
Earley could compete with Luke Leahy for game time at left back for Wycombe or it could mean Earley starts and Leahy shifts into midfield. Both scenarios are fine.
VERDICT: LIKE IT
20:41 - Huw Davies
Eagle-eyed readers and Huw ultras will have realised that I haven't sent an update since I observed in the pub three and a half hours ago that it was “getting dark”.
I'd just like to confirm that I'm not passed out at my desk. In fact, I've been writing up transfers that are yet to go through, checking transfers that have gone through, and taking this picture of Ali after he realised that – having rushed back to the pub and asked three bar staff to help him locate his lost laptop charger – it had been in his bag all along.
Dribbly wide-man Mikey Johnstone signs up for the Baggies’ play-off push.
The right-footed left winger has a silky style and a lovely touch. He’ll bring balance to The Hawthorns and allow the possibility for John Swift to revert back inside, to a #10 role.
Albion, not thought to be in the market for permanent deals, needed to beef up the squad and bring-in options to enhance their promotion challenge. Wallace, Swift and Johnston backed up by Weimann and Fellows, with Diangana also due back from AFCON? All of a sudden, Albion look stacked in attacking midfield.
VERDICT: LIKE IT
20:33 - George Elek
Matty Taylor (ST) - [Forest Green Rovers - Cheltenham Town] - Permanent
It’s fair to say that Cheltenham fans aren’t over the moon about signing a striker from their local rivals, not to mention one who can’t get much game-time for a side bottom of the EFL.
The key to this is Taylor’s relationship with manager Darrell Clarke, having scored over a goal a game in the league for his Bristol Rovers side. They briefly reunited at Port Vale last season before Clarke was sacked, but there is no getting away from the fact that it’s been a season and a half since Taylor last showed that he’s still got it.
If Clarke is able to coax the best out of Taylor’s ageing legs then this could be a masterstroke in getting the goals needed to keep Cheltenham up, but it’s hard to work out how and why they’ve given a 33-year-old whose legs don’t look to be what they were a two and a half year deal.
Notts County reportedly pay a six figure sum to bring giant Gambian, Alassana Jatta, to Meadow Lane. This probably isn’t one that comes down to extensive scouting; the trading clubs’ share owners.
You can’t miss him. Jatta is well over six-foot, although he’s not necessarily powerful, nor is he outstanding in the air. What he does possess is a giant stride and a bit of technical prowess.
He isn’t predatory like Macauley Langstaff and he’s not got the guile of David McGoldrick. If County continue to play two 10s behind a striker, it’s not immediately obvious where Jatta would fit in.
Cardiff are light on left backs with Jamilu Collins having to play almost every minute with no challenger.
Wilson-Esbrand's first loan was with Coventry City in the second half of last season, where he played 640 minutes but never dislodged Jake Bidwell from the left-wing back position. As a youth player at Manchester City, he profiled as an attacking, technical full-back/wing-back with good acceleration and ball-carrying ability. He's a glider, that still has plenty to prove in terms of consistency and defensive chops.
After a stop-start spell at Reims in the first half of the season, it feels like guaranteed minutes are Wilson-Esbrand's best bet to proving himself at senior level, but he'll have to get past Collins first.
League Two had been missing a Tom Bloxham ever since Tom Bloxham (the Shrewsbury variety) was recalled from a loan spell from Morecambe.
Turns out there is a solution.
Harrogate’s first signing of the day is 18-year-old Blackburn loanee Tom Bloxham. Harrogate will hope the teenager, who is right-footed and can operate on either flank, will add more attacking nerve to their preposterous play-off charge.
VERDICT: NAME BLINDED
19:46 - George Elek
Emre Tezgel (ST) - [Stoke City - MK Dons] - Loan
The Mike Williamson MK revolution continues, with 18 year-old Tezgel brought in to replace the striker void left by the departing and disappointing Mo Eisa.
They already play with a diminutive front-man in Max Dean, so the England youth international’s job will be to compete with him for that lone striker role, and looks to bring a similar profile. This looks a low-risk addition with potentially big upside if he delivers on his clear potential.
VERDICT: MAKES SENSE
19:39 - Ryan Deeney
Josh Kelly (ST) - [Solihull Moors - AFC Wimbledon] - Undisclosed
How do you replace a guy so good he might be playing Premier League football next season? You can't, really. Not directly, at least.
What you can do is use the money to sign somebody with the potential to be better than the division you're currently playing in and that's what Wimbledon have in Josh Kelly.
It's the second time Wimbledon Head of Football Operations Craig Cope has signed Kelly, first taking him from part-time Maidenhead United to Solihull Moors, where he was also tasked with replacing the main man in Andrew Dallas. He has performed more than competently in that role despite upheaval at the club, scoring 24 goals in 18 months.
Kelly is a second striker, doing his best work playing off a more physical striker, making runs in behind from a slightly deeper position and enjoying a dribble through the centre of the pitch.
20-year-old striker who came to prominence by scoring the goals to keep UCD in the LOI Premier Division in 2022, earning him a move to St. Patrick's Athletic for the 2023 season.
Mainly a bench option for St Pat's, he made some valuable contributions from the bench. A penalty box striker, who shoots early and often. Could be a useful option as a foil for Stockley or an option off the bench.
The seventh time Fleetwood have signed a player from the League of Ireland in the past 18 months!
VERDICT: A VERY FLEETWOOD SIGNING
19:19 - Ali Maxwell
Kieffer Moore (ST) - [Bournemouth - Ipswich Town] - Loan
Will Ali Al-Hamadi play the George Hirst role, with Hirst out injured? Well, no. That’ll be Kieffer Roberto Francisco Moore.
Moore rejoins Ipswich Town (who can forget his 11 substitute appearances in 2016-17 after singing from then-National League Forest Green?) and will lead the line in their bid for promotion.
Between 2019-22, Moore was one of the best strikers in the Championship, offering a solid goal return and much more in terms of target-man attributes. Moore has been fit all season, but hasn’t made a single Premier League start. If he can get up to speed, the prospect of him playing the first hour, with Al-Hamadi coming off the bench against tired legs, is very tasty indeed.
This is a more natural profile fit for Kieran McKenna’s current attacking strategy and completes a solid window for Ipswich.
VERDICT: THEY'VE GOT THE KEY FOR MORE.
19:05 - Sam Parry
Here are the 33 EFL signings so far today — we reckon that we’re only a third of the way through today’s incomings.
19.00 Dan Sassi (CB) - [Burnley - Blackpool] - Undisclosed
This is a development signing. Neil Critchley compared it to that of Oliver Casey, who was signed from Leeds aged 20 and is now a starting centre-back aged 23, after a bridging loan with Forest Green.
“I'm a defender who is good in the air and on the ball and will give everything for the Club.” Sounds good.
VERDICT: ONE FOR THE FUTURE.
18:53 - George Elek
A quick goodbye to Adam Wharton…
…an EFL Prince who is heading to the Premier League Palace. He’s one of those players who just seems to have more time on the ball than anyone else on the pitch, whose quality always meant his stay in the Championship was always going to be a fleeting visit.
Wharton also has a tenacity off the ball which should enable him to carry himself in the Premier League, and the fact that he cited Frenkie De Jong, Sergio Busquets and Rodri as players he admires in this excellent recent interview with our friends at Scouted might give an insight as to where his future might lie.
We’re delighted that he’s gone to join a club who have provided a clear pathway for Ebere Eze and Michael Olise and, like them, we think Wharton is destined for the top. We’ll be watching on with pride.
6’5 left-footed centre-backs are always going to find a home. Bristol Rovers' only lefty CB is 36-year-old George Friend, and their expansive style of play isn't likely to bring the best out of him, so a signing of this profile makes sense.
Baggott has the height and nice on-ball aesthetics, but he jumped up from a loan at League Two Gills to another with League One Cheltenham mid-way through last season and didn't impact the first team at all.
He has more caps for Indonesia than he does EFL appearances at this stage, but this seems a solid option for all parties.
VERDICT: MAKES SENSE
18:39 - Ali, George, Huw & Sam
Well oiled, and well up for the last portion of Deadline Day. If the verdicts get a little lively from this point, forgive us.
18:30 - Ryan Deeney
Kacper Lopata (CB) - [Barnsley - Port Vale] - Loan
Kacper Lopata has had a crazy couple of years and will surely hope this is an opportunity to get paid and play regularly.
The Polish youngster was well regarded at Bramall Lane and thrived during his time with Southend United, first on loan then permanently. However, off-field issues saw him go unpaid and leave for breach of contract. A short spell at Woking didn't work too well and a move to Barnsley has so far wielded little game time.
Lopata showed at Southend he is ready to play regularly in the EFL and that he can lead a backline. At 22, this is a good opportunity to get regular game time under his belt as Port Vale look to avoid the drop. With Rhys Williams already injured and Lewis Cass now at Stockport County, he should get that opportunity
22-year-old Bickerstaff started three of the first five games of the season for Wrexham, in the absence of Paul Mullin. He scored two goals in that time, but has barely played since. He gets a chance to prove himself at League Two level with an Accy side desperate for #9 reinforcement.
Stanley have performed well this season, considering no striker has scored more than five league goals. It’s not hard to see how this move could benefit both parties.
With only two starts before Christmas, Chakvetadze had to bide his time at Watford. But with Edo Kayembe and Ken Sema out, the Georgian has started the last five games in left wing and #8 roles, and has done enough for the club to sanction to 'turn him perm'.
As an aside: I went to Georgia in the summer during the U21 Euros. It's a delightful country with a fiercely proud populous and enough destinations and activities for a one or two-week trip.
VERDICT: SOLID
18:01 - Ryan Deeney
Josh Andrews (ST) - [Birmingham City - Gillingham] - Undisclosed
The boy affectionately known as Baby Zigic by Blues fans is on the move again, swapping play-off chasing Accrington Stanley for play-off chasing Gillingham.
The Gills' are very busy with their attack, moving on strong League Two names in Tom Nichols (Mansfield Town) and Macauley Bonne (Cambridge United) and replacing them with Josh Walker (Burton Albion) and now Andrews.
The 22-year-old enjoyed by far his best loan spell at Accy, starting regularly and bagging a few goals. He should provide competition for the similarly massive Oli Hawkins and who knows, we may see the pair thrown on together late in games to chase a result. Try defending those long balls. It's good to see Gillingham looking to the future.
VERDICT: HE'S MASSIVE
17:26 - George Elek
Ryan Woods (CM) - [Hull City - Exeter City] - Loan
The boy who was dubbed ‘The Ginger Pirlo’ at Brentford has matured into the ‘Ginger Tom Carroll’, which is confusing as they will now be playing together in the Grecians’ midfield.
Given his early promise it’s hard not to be disappointed that, aged 30, he is on his second League One loan of the season, having spent the first half of it season at Bristol Rovers, where he was used sporadically by both Joey Barton and Matt Taylor.
He remains a very tidy footballer, but he’s not the most mobile these days and it’s hard to see him having a huge impact at St. James Park.
VERDICT: MEH
17:22 - Sam Parry
Antwoine Hackford (ST) - [Sheffield United - Burton] - Loan
This is Burton’s fourth loan signing in January – their fourth! It seems a little excessive, although Jonathan Leko is injured.
Hackford’s had an incredibly tough time with injuries, and a League One loan is exactly the sort of move he needed. But after making his top-flight debut aged 16, and missing out on opportunities whilst on the treatment table, you’d think the very real possibility of a lack of game time would be unattractive.
For Burton, they’re getting a raw finisher, who needs to show he can cope with a physical battle. Big things are expected of him from the Blades, but is this the opportunity to prove himself?
VERDICT: WHY?
17:14 - Huw Davies
I just looked up, and it’s dark
17:10 - Ali Maxwell
Tom Nichols (CF) - [Gillingham - Mansfield] - Undisclosed
On the one hand, Nichols is one of the few genuine ‘deep-lying forwards’ to exist and survive in the modern EFL. Teddy Sheringham for the lower league crowd. Clever movement, excellent football IQ and the deft touch to knit things together in the final third. Something we can all get behind.
On the other hand, with Davis Keillor-Dunn already occupying the ‘diminutive, withdrawn striker’ role, it’s not instantly obvious whether Nichols’ value will expose itself. A goalscorer he is not: the only time he’s ever scored more than 10 non-penalty goals in a season was 2014/15. Perhaps he could play at the tip of a diamond, with Keillor-Dunn plus one? We shall see.
VERDICT: NOT AN OBVIOUS NEED
17:06 - Craig Bradley
Lino Sousa (LB/LWB) - [Aston Villa - Plymouth] - Loan
Lino Sousa moves from Arsenal to Aston Villa and is immediately sent out on loan to Plymouth Argyle. A regular in the England Youth system, he’ll link up with the familiar face of Ian Foster.
Sousa, a left-back with a very attacking mindset will look to get forward at all opportunities. He has a tall, athletic frame with good speed and power to his running. That, coupled with the academy upbringing, should see him transition to senior football well.
Where will he fit into Plymouth's back 3/5 shape? I see the LWB berth as being a great fit. He’ll have license to get forward and he’ll bring a goal threat, both in open play and from set pieces.
VERDICT: LIKE IT
16:59 - Huw Davies
Nelson Khumbeni (CM) - [Bolton Wanderers - Morecambe] - Loan
Morecambe, light in midfield, welcomes a 21-year-old Malawian anchorman on loan to provide backup to Jake Taylor and Yann Songo’o. Box. Ticked.
The former Norwich youth product, now at Bolton, is good on the ball and reading the play around him, and should learn plenty from a first Football League loan, having spent a month with non-league Fylde earlier this season. And if not, well, he says he fancies property investment as a dual career, so he can always find a few properties on the Lancashire coast that are ready to flip.
With injury and performance issues in the goalkeeper department, Grant McCann has called his old team Hull for some reinforcement. Lo-Tutala is a former West Ham, Spurs and Brentford academy player, whose only senior matches were as an emergency loan 'keeper for Stevenage last season. His solid performances helped seal the promotion deal.
VERDICT: CAN SEE THE LOGIC
16:45 - Sam Parry
Since they signed Abdülkamir Ömür,Hüll’s umlaut game has been speshül.
16:33 - Matt Watts
Jack Hinchy (CM) – [Brighton - Shrewsbury] - Loan
Jack Hinchy becomes the latest highly-rated Brighton youngster to head out on loan to an EFL club.
Hinchy, who has captained the Seagulls' U21 team this season, actually made his first-team debut for Albion back in August 2022. More recently, the 21-year-old came on in Brighton's FA Cup 3rd Round victory over Stoke City and he was on the bench for Roberto De Zerbi's men in their Europa League wins over AEK Athens and Marseille. The central midfielder, formally of Stockport County, actually played against Shrewsbury for Brighton U21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy clash back in September.
With a clear pathway into the first team at his parent club, Hinchy will no doubt be hoping that an impressive spell with Paul Hurst’s side will catapult him into Brighton’s plans for next season.
VERDICT – LIKE IT
16:23 - Huw Davies
Abdülkamir Ömür (AM) - Trabzonspor - Hull City - Undisclosed
You know you’ve gone full Underlying Numbers W*nker when you see a manager say, “We played Trabzonspor in a friendly and we recognised straight away what a good player he is”, and you think, “Hmm, hope you’ve got a bigger data set than that, mate”.
But who am I to judge Liam Rosenior? This is the latest in a serious January push from Hull, who clearly see one of those two available play-off spots as their own, and he’s the latest technical playmaker type to rock up at the MKM Stadium. Ömür has had a questionable injury record in the past, with absences due to his knee, ankle, calf, hamstring and coronavirus (admittedly not an injury that’s likely to recur), but has played regularly this season and should be ready to hit the ground running.
Do Hull need him? With Fabio Carvalho and Ozan Tofan around, the 24-year-old may be shunted out onto the right wing a bit. But with Scott Twine gone and Liam Delap injured, sod it, why not?
VERDICT: SOD IT, WHY NOT?
16:15 - Ali Maxwell
Lewis Cass (RB/CB) - [Port Vale - Stockport] - Loan
Stockport are the masters of adding versatile profiles to cover a squad and different systems. They absolutely love versatile defenders that can play outside CB in a back three, or full-back, or wing-back.
An athletic defender, Cass has signed as cover for the injured Kyle Knoyle. His most successful season so far was under Dave Challinor at Hartlepool, winning promotion from the National League. Good chance they'll be spraying some more fizz around the place in May.
Earl is a left-sided defender built in a lab to play LCB role in a back three, and that’s exactly where he’ll play for Barnsley. At League One level, he’s good at passing, good at carrying it forward, and comfortable defending wide areas.
Fleetwood helped him get his confidence back after a tough end to his spell at boyhood club Preston, but this is a great move for him and a fantastic move for Barnsley. It suggests that Fleetwood are accepting that relegation is their fate, having sold three starters in the last few days: Earl, Jack Marriott and Josh Vela.
VERDICT: ONE OF ALI’S FAVOURITE DEALS OF THE WINDOW
16:07 - Ali Maxwell
Denver Hume (LB) - [Portsmouth - Grimsby] - Free
We should start with the fact that Hume has made just 11 league starts in two-and-a-half years. Much of this was down to consistent hamstring issues, but even having got fit, and stayed fit, this season, he’s been nowhere near Pompey’s first team and they are cutting their losses on a £200k signing.
With Danny Amos nowhere near the Grimsby squad, and expected to be moved on, Grimsby’s only natural left back is Anthony Driscoll-Glennon. Like Driscoll-Glennon, Hume is stronger going forward than defensively, which fits the mould of a David Artell full-back.
VERDICT: ON THE FENCE
15:53 - Ali Maxwell
Caleb Taylor (CB) - [West Brom - Bolton] - Loan
Ricardo Santos has a tear in his calf. Eoin Toal is carrying some sort of injury, and playing through it. Bolton needed a centre-back.
Caleb Taylor is a big, brave CB who had an excellent loan in League One with Cheltenham last season and has spent this season learning from Carlos Corberan and warming WBA's bench.
The jury is still out on Taylor as a ball-playing centre-back — Cheltenham didn't ask him to do much in possession; Ian Evatt will. But he loves winning headers and that's never a bad thing.
VERDICT: BOLTON MOVE QUICKLY TO FILL A NEED, LIKE IT
15:47 - Sam Parry
You’re looking at these pump clips, what are you ordering?
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15:28 - Ali Maxwell
Charles Sagoe Jr (LW/RW) - [Arsenal - Swansea City] - Loan
The LukeWilliamsification of Swansea gathers pace. Williams played three-at-the-back at Notts County, and is doing so again with Swans. But his ‘wing-backs’ were non-traditional… perhaps even radical. Jodi Jones and Aaron Nemane, both pure attacking wingers, forming part of a front five in possession, stretching the play and adding 1v1 dribbling ability to exploit overloads.
Sagoe Jr is a promising Hale End talent with a name like a self-made US Billionaire. As a footballer, he's a wide player comfortable on either flank and with both feet, who has notched 10 assists and three goals across 17 matches in PL2, UEFA Youth League and the BSM Trophy this season.
You never truly know what to expect with first-time loans, and being thrust straight into a Championship season is a big test for any youngster. But Swansea need some wide attacking thrust, and they've got it.
There won’t be many EFL clubs replacing a Zimbabwean with a Colombian on Transfer Deadline Day, but that’s exactly what’s happened at Gillingham. After Macauley Bonne’s departure this morning, the Gills have brought in Jorge Hurtado on loan from Watford.
The 20-year-old spent the latter part of 2023 on loan at New York Red Bulls, before featuring in Watford’s FA Cup win over Chesterfield. A product of the Real Cartagena academy, Hurtado is still incredibly raw, erratic and unpredictable, but he’s a willing runner.
VERDICT: THIS COULD GO ONE OF TWO WAYS
15:20 - Sam Parry
Jed Steer (GK) [Unattached - Peterborough] - Free
Steer sets a new record, becoming the first played to get 2x write-ups on NTT20.COM in a single transfer window. After signing a short-term contract with Posh, he started their last three games and now signs a deal until the end of the season.
VERDICT: THE SAME AS LAST TIME
15:09 - Sam Parry
One small walk to the pub, one giant leap in transfers.
Three on their way.
14:57 - Ali, George, Huw and Sam
….PUB?
14:53 - Ali Maxwell
Alex Mighten (W) - [ Nottingham Forest - Port Vale] - Loan
Mighten was considered one of Nottingham Forest’s outstanding academy talents. In fact, in 20/21, it was Brennan Johnson who was sent out on loan, with Mighten kept on as a squad player.
Still only 21, his career seems to have stalled after poor loans with Sheffield Wednesday (who didn’t play wingers) and K.V. Kortrijk (where he started two games).
It’s hard to know where he fits in a Vale side currently playing with wing-backs, not wingers. That’s concerning, as after a tough few years, it feels the best thing would be guaranteed game time at a level where he can rebuild his confidence.
VERDICT: ON THE FENCE
14:18 - Ali Maxwell
George Byers (CM) - [Sheff Wed - Blackpool] - Loan
Blackpool are signing a premium central midfielder as they try to make up a four-point gap to punch their way into the play-offs.
When Byers was fit last season, he brought box-to-box quality to Wednesday’s midfield. A trio of injuries disrupted his season, but when he played, Wednesday generally won: W17, 5D, 2L in his 24 appearances. Since a red card against Preston five weeks ago, Danny Röhl seemingly decided he wasn’t to be part of his plans going forward.
Despite the recent goalscoring form of Albie Morgan, a midfield two of Ollie Norburn and George Byers provides a strong, more balanced base to Neil Critchley’s team, with the tidiness and discipline of Norburn giving Byers the chance to support attacks.
If he can avoid the niggly injuries of last season, this is some signing.
The 20-year-old has always scored for fun in Middlesbrough’s youth teams – a goal every 95 minutes for their Under-18s, every 118 minutes for the U21s and every 78 minutes for the U23s – but didn’t show the clinical finishing for which he’s renowned at underage level in previous League Two loans with Harrogate and Newport. Kavanagh’s reaction? To plunge properly into the deep end by joining League Two Bradford on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Good on him.
For the Bantams, it’s an ambitious move with potential long-term benefit – and potential short-term benefit, too, if Kav Jr (yes, he’s Graham’s son) can thrive in partnership with Andy Cook up top. He says he “likes to press and get in people’s faces”, which is just what Bradford need.
We’re expecting Grimsby to be busy today. Curtis Thompson is the first one through the door.
Working well together already, Cheltenham’s midfield of Pett, Bonds and Sercombe have been supplemented this window by the arrivals of Liam Kinsella and Josh Harrop meaning that Thompson had dropped down the depth chart and become available.
Grimsby have landed the wily midfield man and given him an eighteen-month deal. They’ll be hoping, in the short term at least, that he can fill the void left by Kamil Conteh’s departure and that his experience can help thwart any slide towards the relegation trapdoor.
Neil Harris likes signing strikers. His Gillingham team had more than a few knocking about, and now he’s gone and ticked the ‘raids former club box’ with the signing of Macauley Bonne.
Cambridge have recently given Lyle Taylor a debut. He’s a striker. They also have Gassan Ahadme, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Elias Kachungha, Sullay Kaikai and squad legend Saikou Janneh on the books. They are all strikers, and as a group, they've done okay.
But Harris loves strikers, and Bonne, now 28, provides additional nous in the final third having previously hit double figures at this level. He has been in and out under Stephen Clemence, so a move away always made sense for everyone.
VERDICT: SHOOTING DRILLS ARE ABOUT TO GET A LOT MORE COMPETITIVE
I wonder whether this deal is tinged with regret for Gas? Not only because Collins is leaving. But because there’s a question about whether they could’ve and should’ve cashed in before the season started.
Collins’s form prior to this season was top banana. He followed up 16 League One goals in 2021/22 with another 16 in 2022/23, adding enough assists to make him the only player in the division to hit the double-double. This season his numbers haven’t reached the same heights.
All that is by-the-by now — Bristol Rovers are rumoured to be getting a reasonably big fee; Bolton are making a big signing.
But where does Collins fit into the frontline? It’s up for debate. He has done his best work at Rovers operating from the left as a wide-forward. When playing centrally he drops deep in between the opposition defence and midfield. No bad traits but would Bolton have been better off targeting somebody who could offer more of a focal point?
We’re gonna find out….
VERDICT: ON THE FENCE
12.30 - Sam Parry
Where are we at then?
3 of 7 signings to date - Moxon, Collins, Pritchard
It’s lunchtime-ish. The clock is ticking. We’ve only had 7 transfers so far today, but it’s going to get busier. What does The Business to date look like?
Alex Pritchard (AM) - [Sunderland - Birmingham] - Undisclosed
Owen Moxon (CM) - [Carlisle United - Portsmouth] - Undisclosed
Luke Bolton (RB/RWB) - [Salford - Wrexham] - Undisclosed
Jack Marriott (ST) - [Fleetwood Town - Wrexham] - Undisclosed
11:49 - George Elek
Owen Dale (RW) - [Blackpool to Oxford] - Undisclosed
It will be a relief for Owen Dale to see those two sweet letters next to his name above, having spent the majority of the season playing LWB for Blackpool. Dale is a victim of Neil Critchley's desire to play wing-backs more than any performance related issue, especially with CJ Hamilton making the right-side berth very much his own. Blackpool fans are perplexed as to why they are allowing him to join a promotion rival.
Dale maybe hasn't delivered on his early promise at Crewe, where he scored 11 League One goals in 20/21, with fans at both Blackpool and in a loan spell at Pompey both questioning his end product, although John Mousinho has since said that he believes that was a systemic issue rather than a reflective of Dale's ability.
He's a good one-on-one dribbler, offers energy and a willingness to get stuck in out of possession and has shown in the past that he has quality to hit some good numbers for goals and assists. Oxford put in an improved performance on Tuesday night reverting back to a 4-2-3-1, which would suit Dale well. At 25, he's a player who should have his best years ahead of him and, for what has been reported as a 'bargain fee,' there is little not to like about this.
VERDICT: LIKE IT A LOT
11:33 - Huw Davies
Owen Moxon (CM) - [Carlisle United - Portsmouth] - Undisclosed
Ruthless? Opportunistic? Or just extremely smart? Portsmouth continue to conduct their January transfer business with a winner’s mentality, using external situations for their own benefit – Callum Lang, extracted from an awkward fit with Shaun Maloney’s Wigan; Tom McIntyre, bought for a cut-price fee because Reading urgently need funds; and now Owen Moxon, with Carlisle looking to make whatever return they can on a player who planned to leave on a free this summer.
The fee is a very small crumb of comfort to Carlisle – their new owners have money, after all, but soon may not have a club in League One – although Moxon’s departure seems to have been handled diplomatically, with disappointment rather than anger. After all, he’s a former Cumbrians ball-boy who helped his boyhood club to promotion at Wembley last year, barely 12 months after working part-time as a delivery driver in Scotland.
But enough of the past – what of the future? What does Moxon offer Pompey? A midfielder who can play this weekend, for a start, after Joe Morrell went off injured on Tuesday.
More than that, Moxon offers something that the otherwise excellent midfield duo of Morrell and Marlon Pack cannot or do not: ambition on the ball. Vaulting ambition, perhaps, considering Moxon had the lowest pass completion percentage of any central midfielder in League Two last season, but that willingness to make a game his own was a big contributor to his success at Carlisle. Ball-carrying, a wide range of passing, long-distance shooting that forces defenders out of position to press him… you don’t get this with Messrs Morrell and Marlon, tidy as they are.
And he’s ready to go. The 26-year-old has made 25 League One starts already in 2023/24, so fitness is no issue.
Improvised or not, this is a clever transfer made possible by two things: Pompey and circumstance.
VERDICT: LOVE IT
11:22 - Ali Maxwell & George Elek
Morgan Rogers has signed for Villa
Our views on the transfer differ, and you can read up on both sides of the argument below.
20-year-old Romaine Mundle turned down a contract at Spurs in the summer to sign as a free agent with Standard Liege. But he’s been unable to get into Standard’s struggling side and has only made a handful of substitute appearances. Mundle is a right-footed winger who can play on either flank, with speed the key weapon in his armoury. He fits in nicely with Sunderland’s transfer strategy of signing potential over current ability.
VERDICT: ONE FOR THE FUTURE
10:35 - Huw Davies
I’m sat on the 10:18 train to London Paddington, and I am bristling with excitement. It isn’t due to the rare experience of being on a 1h45m train rather than the 3h45m bus, either, although that helps. Hell, I could play Football Manager if I wanted to. But I don’t want to, because I am on the 10:18 train to London Paddington and I am in Transfer Mode.
It’s Transfer Deadline Day on NTT20.com, and it’s live. Literally. And I’m part of it.
Over the past few weeks, contributing to Done Deals Daily has made me a bit nostalgic for my days managing Print Week at a monthly magazine. Sure, freelance life in Cardiff is gwych, as 100,000 of us in this city might say; however, it does come without the cut and thrust of hitting a hard deadline in the papery flesh. Analysing transfers every single day as part of a team that knows what it’s doing has been fun and fulfilling. Funfilling. But a daily email is still more snip ’n’ push than cut ’n’ thrust. Giving fresh takes on every Football League transfer live – properly live, live live, with updates every few minutes… shivers, mate. I can’t wait.
And so, as I pass the various stations on this semi-electrified train line, I wonder if I should be doing something already, before I join the gang at NTT20 Towers. We just passed Newport, and I didn’t think to jump out onto the platform and ask a tardy commuter what they thought of Luke Jephcott’s recent arrival. I still have the homes of many a Football League club to come: Bristol, Swindon, Reading. Maybe there’ll be a crash and we’ll be diverted to Oxford. I’m ready to do what it takes, even if that means shouting out of the train window for updates on a player’s medical.
Maybe I’ll just wait. There’s a big afternoon, evening and night ahead. In the meantime, I’ll reflect on the sign in front of me, which summarises so perfectly what we at NTT20 will be doing with every single transfer in the Football League today.
See it.
Say it.
Sorted.
10:24 - Ryan Deeney
Alex Pritchard (AM) - [Sunderland - Birmingham] - Undisclosed
Tony Mowbray knows and likes Alex Pritchard from his time in the North East, so you can almost hear the logical gears grinding in Mowbray’s brain.
Pritchard is a tidy, technical and creative footballer who will help Mowbray in his ambition – and the owner’s – to improve the style of play at Blues. He joins Paik Seung-Ho and Andre Dozzell in a new-look midfield and offers some experience in a position where Blues have too often lacked it.
His departure from Sunderland has been messy and a reported two-and-a-half-year deal is questionable given his age, but the short-term benefits should be positive for new club and player.
VERDICT: LIKE IT
Oh, and FUN FACT… Pritchard is a surname deriving from ‘son of Richard’, or ‘ap Richard’ in Welsh (hence p-Richard over time). You’ll see this with several popular names beginning Pr, such as Price/Preece (son of Rhys), Probert (son of Robert) and apparently Protheroe, though we’ve no idea who’s been calling their son Rotheroe.
10:10 - George Elek
If you've taken today off to sit in your pyjamas and watch Sky Sports News then maybe you’re already cracking on with a brew and flitting between questions of football, lunch and life choices.
Don’t worry, you’ve made a good one here.
Windows should never really open in January, certainly the glass variety. so it should be no surprise that the winter one is rarely as dramatic as it's billed to be at the top level but, in the EFL, we can pretty much promise chaos.
A market that relies so heavily on loan deals will often be a slow burn, but everyone is running out of time and facing up to the fact that they may no get what they want, but they will normally get something, even if that something isn't what they've spent the whole window waiting for.
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Take Oxford's Deadline Day last season, with relegation looming large in the rearview and wing mirrors, fans were briefly appeased when Tyler Smith was loaned in from Hull to complement Matty Taylor up front, and Ateef Konate pitched up from Forest. Great, we thought. Promising, it seemed.
I went to bed, dreaming of a Konate and Smith-filled Yellow future, only to wake up and find out that Taylor was now a Port Vale player. Konate and Smith managed 383 mins between them before being discarded. The lessons here are: a) remember that the guy who signs today might not be your saviour and b) don't go to bed before we say so or your favourite player will leave.
Stay with us, we promise we will do everything we can to make the chaos as enjoyable and insightful as we can. And I look forward to seeing where Ateef pops up today.
09:54 - Ali Maxwell
We hear you Tom…
And you know we love spreadsheets. So why don't you open these delicious Quarterly Update Figures (not!). It's all the players to play over 600 Championship minutes via FBref. And we'd love to hear if there are any interesting nuggets you can dig out? Any player with underlying xG/xA that surprises you? Who stands out when it comes to progress passing, carrying or receiving? Hopefully, that will keep you busy, and your boss happy.
Luke Bolton (RW) - [Salford City - Wrexham] - Undisclosed
Wrexham get us off and running on the EFL’s showbiz day.
In keeping with their recruitment policy of the last two years, they are attracting players that would ordinarily be moving to League One level, and strengthening their squad further as they gun for promotion and a consecutive league title.
Luke Bolton was a standout player for Salford in 22/23, and caught fire towards the end of the season playing as an ‘old school’ right winger, his speed and dribbling ability are his best assets. For Wrexham, he’ll play RWB in their 3-5-2 formation, which hasn’t been their strongest position this season. Like James McClean on the other side, he’ll carry them up the pitch, hold the width in attack and provide crosses for Steven Fletcher, Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Sam Dalby and…
Jack Marriott (ST) - [Fleetwood Town - Wrexham] - Undisclosed
… Jack Marriott!
This former League One Golden Boot winner provides them with another poaching option. As well as fame and fortune, this will be a great fit for Marriott in terms of playing to his strengths and concealing his weaknesses. As part of a front two, he will only be asked to do what he excels at – clever movement to sniff out goal-scoring opportunities and finish with composure, something he’s done consistently (when fit) at League One and League Two level for almost a decade.
He likely will be rotated in and out, often used off the bench, as Phil Parkinson likes a target man type (Fletcher, Palmer, Dalby) and a poacher (Mullin, Marriott). Even playing for the worst team in League One this season, Marriott was racking up good xG numbers. This is a strong addition.
VERDICT: STRONG SIGNINGS FROM DEADPOOL ON DEADLINE DAY
08:35 - Sam Parry
GET ‘EM RUNNING BOYS, IT’S DEADLINE DAY.
I’ve been lurking in the background at NTT20.COM, totting up the transfers as they roll in like the balls of a Newton's Cradle desk toy. Absorbing. Rhythmic. Strangely addictive, and also, strangely predictable.
Did you know almost every signing announced in January happens after lunchtime? Those fax machines must take a while to heat up…
GET ‘EM RUNNING BOYS, IT’S DEADLINE DAY.
So far, there have been 185+ inbound signings across the EFL, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we’ve added another 80 today. Whilst, Carlisle and Charlton – with 7 apiece – have been the busiest to date, there are six clubs yet to sign a player. Those are Mansfield, Rotherham, Preston, Norwich, Leicester and Leeds. Note the Championship skew: those clubs are waiting for business to happen elsewhere, above and around them. Or maybe not. Maybe they’re happy with their lot. Some of us are. I am.
Why wouldn’t I be? It’s deadline day morning, and I’m hoping to luxuriate in a long and late breakfast before things get wild at NTT20 HQ. But what will I have? Hmmm. Rember Jesse from The Fast Show? Well…
Today I will mostly be eating TRANSFERS.
06:30 - Ali Maxwell
Our most ambitious project yet.
Not The Top 20 Podcast started life in 2016. A tiny hamlet in the vast digital landscape, with one goal: to talk about the EFL in a way that fans of EFL clubs appreciate and enjoy.
The hamlet grew quickly — it took a village. The podcast became established. Major broadcasters put George and myself on your screens and radios. We put on a live show and met hundreds of you in person. The NTT20 Squad brought together a vibrant community of EFL fans, one big family.
Then, last year, NTT20.COM was conceptualised.
Would it work? Was there an appetite for EFL content that prioritised depth and research over clickbait? Would there be an audience?
We learned that the answer was YES.
All three leagues contain almost everything brilliant about football. And it’s an absolute pleasure to cover them all with the same insight, analysis and passion as the top-flight.
That brings us to our most ambitious project yet: this Deadline Day Live Blog.
We’ve loved Live Blogs since the dawn of the Internet. BBC Sport for big Champions League nights in the 00s. The Guardian for the Test Match cricket OBO. Bill Simmons’ NBA Draft Diaries. All iconic.
So we are giving it a go with our very own EFL January transfer rave. We will cover every done deal, letting you a bit about each player and laying out our instinctive verdict on the the impact they might make for their new clubs.
We’d love it if you kept us company. Drop us a comment. Share this on Twitter, on your club forum or in your group chat.
Just accidentally shared this instead of my PowerPoint when presenting to the chief nurses in East of England
Unfortunately none of them had an opinion on the Morgan Rogers transfer or were interested in hearing about Ali’s great impressions
Please can you sporadically just post an Excel sheet on this feed - so my boss doesn't get suspicious today!