Our Top 20 Deadline Day Deals + every EFL transfer from yesterday
NTT20 staff writers pick their favourite twenty signings from the 94 done deals in the EFL.
Another deadline day has flown by. And it was fitting that Ali Maxwell was boarding a plane just as proceedings were truly taking flight, because, for several players seeking more game time, the exits were here (Colchester), here (Bradford), and here (Wycombe).
In fact, there were 94 exits overall. No club was busier than Col U though, their fax machine a blipping time bomb of ink and A4. No hours were busier than those between 9PM and midnight. And no stone has been left unturned, no stat unscrutinised, and no highlights package unwatched in our journey to deliver the best round-up of EFL signings.
It’s a rare day indeed when Not The Top 20 brings you, erm… The Top 20. But that day has dawned. Brought to you by George Elek, Ali Maxwell, Huw Davies, Sam Parry, Craig Bradley and Andy Watson, here is a window not just slammed but nailed shut.
The Top 20
In no particular order, our favourite signings from January Deadline Day, 2025
[1] Samuel Iling-Junior (RW/LW) - [Aston Villa - Middlesbrough] - Loan
Chelsea, Juventus, Aston Villa, Bologna (loan), Middlesbrough (loan) – it’s a solid Wiki career path for a 21-year-old, and that’s without mentioning 11 England U21 caps and counting. Iling-Junior’s move to Villa was followed by a loan to Bologna, where despite scoring a late equaliser on debut against Como, and a Champions League goal against Dortmund, SIJ never nailed down a starting spot with the Bolognese club.
If we take our eyes off the sparkling names on his CV, which suggest a lot of potential, it’s fair to ask: what is Iling-Junior’s actual current level? The majority of his minutes at Juventus were from the bench, he didn’t start a league game for Bologna this season, and England U21 games are increasingly uncompetitive – they’ve won 15 of their last 19, and 11 of those to nil.
Iling-Junior is 6ft, left-footed, quick and skillful with a strong physique. He played left wing and left wing-back for Juventus, right wing for Bologna, and left-back in the last two England U21 games. For Middlesbrough, he could challenge for the RW spot with Morgan Whittaker and Ben Doak, who is rumoured to have picked up an injury, or the LW spot with Delano Burgzorg and Riley McGree, or Carrick might even go gung-ho and try him at left-back. Boro are betting on individual quality and hoping for explosive, match-winning performances, and maintaining a reputation for being a good landing spot for those who are considered elite talents.
[2] Lasse Nordås (ST) - [Tromsø - Luton] - Undisclosed
When the big front two of Championship-proven strapping power forwards don't work, what do you do? You go to Norway and bring in a new one – in this case, Lasse Nordås from Tromso. The fee is around £3m, which is pure profit for the Arctic Circle club, who signed him on a free from Bodø/Glimt 18 months ago.
Luton have followed the path taken by so many Championship clubs in this window and recruited a player from Scandinavia. Indeed, if there were such a thing as a football territory stock market, we would be seeing a massive rise in demand for Viking stock across the whole of the British Isles. This window is a big change to what we had seen before post-Brexit.
Nordås is almost an archetypal Viking, and an equally archetypal Luton forward. Standing at 1.94m and coming in as the #4 ranked power forward in the 2024 Eliteserien, according to The GBE Expert Hub data system, he comes across as a player just to hit directly. However, he is actually quite versatile as a forward, with good technique and decent passing ability to go with his prodigious height.
[3] Mai Traore (ST) - [Fredrikstad - Notts County] - Undisclosed
It’s a sample size of one, admittedly, but this feels as though Notts County are trying to repeat a pattern. Last January they bought Alassana Jatta from Viborg of Denmark. There was an overlap of half a season with Macaulay Langstaff before Jatta was fully trusted with the baton. Now they bring in Mai Traore from Fredrikstad of Norway. Same intentions, right? They’re probably already identifying who is going to run the anchor leg.
So, who and what is Mai Traore? He’s a busier player than Jatta but carries less of a penalty-box threat. That's not to say he can't score goals, because he has displayed some nice finishing, but he does better work getting involved in deeper areas and carrying the ball towards goal. Traore is strong on his left side, quick off the mark, and has the strength to fend off defenders.
The Guinean is 25 now, and his only season with Fredrikstad was ended prematurely through injury, which means he missed out on their run to the Norwegian Cup final and, more relevantly to Notts County, he hasn't played a senior game since August. He has been back in training for Fredrikstad's pre-season, however, so he’s presumably close to playing fitness levels. Time will tell if Traore takes over from Jatta but the pair have a blend of qualities that could combine for a formidable partnership.
[4] Jordan Rhodes (ST) - [Blackpool - Mansfield] - Loan
We wrote only yesterday about Wrexham committing to the bit by buying another veteran striker, in Jay Rodriguez. Not to be outdone, Nigel Clough has looked at Lucas Akins (35) and Lee Gregory (36) and decided to refresh his attack with the youthful vigour of Rhodes, who turns 35 tomorrow.
This signing would've resembled a masterstroke for Mansfield 12 months ago, and not just because they were in League Two then. Rhodes had an Indian summer in the autumn of 2023, joining Blackpool and scoring 15 league goals before Christmas. He then scored zero league goals after Christmas, right up to this departure 13 months later. Just to clarify: that's 15 goals in 19 League One games, followed by 0 in 31. Overuse and injuries were chiefly to blame, but we can't rule out a curse placed by Krampus.
Clough has worked his magic with many an older player at Mansfield, and it'd be foolish to assume it can't happen again with Rhodes. The striker's poaching instincts are as finely tuned as ever and he won't be expected to do much running, as long as his movement between the goalposts is smart. Go get 'em, tiger!
[5] Marcus Edwards (RW) - [Sporting - Burnley] - Loan
Once the diamond of Tottenham’s academy and the protagonist of some early YouTube hype videos, Edwards had done well at Sporting until he fell out of favour this season. It’s a massive surprise to see him pitch up in the Championship at Burnley, who have initially taken him on loan but with a reported obligation to make it permanent for somewhere between £8m and £10m. Scott Parker knows Edwards from his time at Spurs, but this still represents a drop-off for a player with a lot of Champions League and Europa League experience, who posted 11 goals and nine assists across the last two LIGA NOS campaigns.
Edwards, 26, is a left-footer who likes to play off the right, and is primarily a ball-carrier and progressive passer. He is, simply, a very fun footballer who is moving to maybe the least fun team in world football.
Will he be the fix that means Parker’s side can stay defensively solid but also offer some kind of attacking threat? Given that Jaidon Anthony, Jeremy Sarmiento, Zian Flemming and Josh Brownhill are also quite fun players, we’re not holding our breath, but we’re excited to see Edwards back in England nonetheless.
[6] Andrew Oluwabori (LW) - [FC Halifax Town - Exeter] - Undisclosed
Oluwabori can play in any of the roles behind the striker, but he’s mostly seen in a starting position on the left with the freedom to roam infield. He joins Exeter from FC Halifax Town as the Grecians scouted non-league for a high-potential player who can make an immediate impact.
Is this starting to sound familiar? It should be. Exeter are following up on the same profile of player as Millenic Alli, and are once again buying from Halifax. Alli was flipped to Luton for a rumoured £1.5m just last week and Exeter will hope for a similar play to unfold with Oluwabori.
Like Alli, Oluwabori is shot-happy – he averaged 2.62 shots per 90 in the National League this season, ranking him 14th in the division. Like Alli, Oluwabori is capable of the sublime – he can shoot with both feet and has a wonderful highlight reel. He really is Alli 2.0. As is to be expected with a player of his profile, the 23-year-old needs some polishing and to add consistency to his magic moments, but there's hope that in this instance history can repeat itself, because this isn’t lazy recruitment. Oluwabori spent a large chunk of the 2022/23 season on loan at Exeter’s neighbours, Yeovil, and he will have been tracked since.
[7] Connor Ripley (GK) - [Port Vale - Swindon] - Undisclosed
When deciding which transfers to cover, we reminded ourselves to ask: “Does this addition immediately improve the team?” Transfers are hard! January transfers are even harder! And the best-case scenario for a transfer rarely transpires… But the answer here is a resounding YES.
In the two seasons before this one, Ripley played every minute of League One campaigns with Morecambe and then Port Vale, being peppered left, right and centre and ultimately suffering relegation on both occasions through no fault of his own. He made it to the halfway point of 2024/25 before losing his place in the Vale side to another quality League Two keeper in Ben Amos.
Ripley is experienced and a very capable shot-stopper at this level, and Swindon are in the market for both of those things; young keepers Daniel Barden and Jack Bycroft have shared the gloves this season, with neither playing particularly well. Ripley joins a team in great form, flying up the table, and is likely to go straight into the XI. Swindon’s next game? Port Vale at home. Woof.
[8] Tammer Bany (AM/ST) - (Randers - West Brom) - Undisclosed
Yet more Scandinavian pillaging by the English second tier? There needs to be some kind of support circle set up.
Bany, 21, is enjoying a meteoric rise. West Bromwich Albion are his first club outside of his native land, but he hasn’t taken the normal route through a top Danish academy; instead, Bany has worked his way through the Danish leagues, ending up at Randers. They themselves are interlopers in the top half of the Superliga, but must be lauded for their recruitment in turning a £100k purchase into a £3.2m profit.
His fairly unusual route to England seems to mirror his playing style. This is not the polished technical #10 that fans of Christian Eriksen or even Mikkel Damsgaard will recognise. Bany has been involved in more duels per 90 – defensive duels, indeed – than any other player in the Danish Superliga, and averaged 2.6 successful tackles per 90. He is #1 ranked in The GBE Expert Hub role ratings as a pressing forward. West Brom fans should expect a high-octane player whose technique may need the Tony Mowbray touch.
[9] Kelechi Iheanacho (ST) - [Sevilla - Middlesbrough] - Loan
The MLS window hasn’t yet slammed shut, so no news on Emmanuel Latte Lath’s move to Atlanta United is just that: no news, rather than good news for Middlesbrough fans. Iheanacho’s arrival surely suggests it’s just a matter of time until his departure is confirmed.
Iheanacho was last seen in English football playing a bit-part role in Leicester’s 2023/24 Championship title-winning campaign, scoring five league goals, including two penalties. A summer move to Sevilla hasn’t worked out, so he’ll now be the man Boro turn to for goals in their top-six quest. Is he that man? Maybe – his goals per 90 record is generally pretty good, although for some reason or other (Jamie Vardy) he was never able to establish himself as Leicester’s regular first-choice striker.
It might not be a seamless integration into the side, as Iheanacho isn’t an out-and-out goalscorer like Latte Lath and, to some degree, Tommy Conway. The 28-year-old prefers to drop in and get on the ball, and he’s often a creative source himself – good news for Morgan Whittaker, you’d think. But there’s no denying his quality, and given how difficult it is to recruit effectively in January, turning to Iheanacho as a four-month stop-gap looks as good a way as any of dealing with Latte Lath’s departure.
[10] Danilo Orsi (ST) - [Burton - MK Dons] - Loan
All season, League Two has been waiting for MK Dons to kick into gear, but the reality is they are exactly where they should be. The data shows little sign of underperformance. Their 38 points puts them 11th in the table, as do their 39 expected points.
Their xG is six goals lower than their actual goals scored, but that’s offset by their xGA being five goals better than their goals conceded. That doesn’t suggest a glaring need for attacking reinforcements—especially considering that only Walsall, Notts County, Chesterfield, and Swindon have scored more this season. But perhaps, on this late-night occasion, Scott Lindsey can be forgiven for flicking to the strikers' page in his little black book of former players.
Danilo Orsi was central to Lindsey’s Crawley side securing an unexpected promotion from League Two last season, scoring 23 goals, including a play-off semi-final hat-trick and the opening goal in their 2-0 final victory over Crewe.
Losing him to Burton in the summer, when they came in with a cash bid, was a huge blow to Crawley’s survival hopes. Orsi initially struggled but hit a run of form in October, scoring in four consecutive matches. However, his momentum faded, and he has only scored once since, with his game time significantly reduced since the turn of the year. A step back down to League Two and a reunion with Lindsey could be exactly what Orsi needs. And who knows—maybe another play-off campaign isn’t out of the question
[11] Lewis O'Brien (CM) - [Nottingham Forest - Swansea] - Loan
A victim of Nottingham Forest’s frenetic approach to transfers, O’Brien played just 580 Premier League minutes after signing in 2022/23. On January deadline day in 2023, a move to Blackburn Rovers broke down, and as a result,his game time was virtually non-existent. A short loan to DC United followed, then some Championship minutes with Middlesbrough (18 starts), before he was back in America with LAFC. It’s been a topsy-turvy ride, and you have to feel for the 26-year-old – most Championship sides could’ve worn him like a comfortable old slipper.
But the shoe is on the other foot. O’Brien’s contract with Forest expires in June 2026, and this move provides a shop window behind which the central midfielder can catch some eyes. If he can, it will go a long way to stopping the Swansea rot. Ali has already detailed the issue arising from losing a player of Matt Grimes’ quality, and in support of those arguments, Swans conspired to lose the ball in their own third at the weekend to concede against Coventry. Reality bites.
So does Lewis O’Brien. He's a nuisance for opponents, snapping to close them down whilst also being smart off the ball to block lanes. He’s a solid and progressive short passer who can operate under pressure with the ball, which tallies with his new situation. It’s hard not to like this for Swansea.
[12] Ruairi McConville (CB) - [Brighton - Norwich] - Undisclosed
Brighton sold two youngsters to Championship clubs on deadline day: 21-year-old winger Benicia Baker-Boaitey to Millwall, and 19-year-old defender Ruairi McConville to Norwich. McConville is a tall, physical centre-back who's also comfortable on the ball, as you'd expect with a Brighton upbringing, and he has received great praise at youth level for his leadership qualities. That could persuade Johannes Hoff Thorup to make immediate use of him, because the Norwich manager hasn't been afraid to give young players opportunities – five of the 15 squad members who've played 1,000+ league minutes this season are aged 21 or under, including Oscar Schwartau, 18.
Curiously, McConville has made more appearances on the international stage than he has at senior club level. He has two Northern Ireland caps, including one start, but his first match for Brighton was also his last – and it came against Norwich in the FA Cup last month. The five-year contract and reported £1m+ transfer fee that followed a few weeks later suggests they probably scouted him for longer than those 20 minutes at Carrow Road
[13] Louie Marsh (AM) - [Sheffield Utd - Fleetwood] - Loan
A quintessential “modern striker” who poses the quintessential League Two question: will a young player cope with the physicality? Louie Marsh has been this way before. He signed for Donny last season before a broken bone put a premature end to his campaign. Then as now, Marsh has been a prolific scorer in Blades development sides, making the first team bench on numerous occasions and grabbing the odd minutes. He’s a second striker who wants to get involved in and around the penalty area - by dint of which, he can also play a little deeper. Capable of the spectacular goal, the decisive pass and the neat dribble, the 20-year-old has the technical game to mix it with the best in the fourth tier - even his tap-ins from penalty rebounds have a touch of class. Capped at England U20 level, Sheffield United see him as a player with a big future, but he does now need to get those minutes under his belt to prove it. Fleetwood are looking at a steep ascent to make the top 7, but a player with Marsh’s skillset might help unpick defences and turn those losses into draws and draws into wins.
[14] Christian Nwachukwu (WG) - [Botev Plovdiv - Sheffield United] - Undisclosed
[15] Jefferson Caceres (LW) - [FBC Melgar - Sheffield United] - Undisclosed
“AI Up” — were those the words of Chris Wilder, typed carefully into DeadlineDayGPT? When asked about the use of artificial intelligence in the signings, the Sheffield United manager claimed Rosie of the canteen and Paul Heaton of the Beautiful South regularly highlighted prospective targets from Venezuela and the Netherlands respectively. Point being, there is no hierarchy of good ideas at Bramall Lane, which gives the manager sufficient breathing space to plug into the information super-highway and pluck out a 19-year-old Nigerian making a living in Bulgaria and a 22-year-old forward plying his trade in Peru.
Whether Christian Nwachukwu and Jefferson Cáceres have been editing their own StatsBomb page is currently unknown. But their Wikipedia entries now both read “winger for Sheffield United” respectively. The signings make for an interesting wrinkle in the transfer process that had, up until this point, been a solid British Boyzone affair ever since Wilder returned to Blades.
There are certainly huge question marks around the pair’s physicality, both are the wrong side of 5’6. But Cáceres is a speedy dribbler, keen to cut inside and take a shot, whilst Nwachukwu, still a teenager, has more scope to flourish. He has a nice first touch, is direct after receiving the ball, and hits it cleanly, as evidenced by his sole goal in the qualifiers for the Europa League. However they pan out, the club are trying something new, and as Wilder said himself, “it may take time before we see some results”.
[16] Sam Cosgrove (ST) - (Barnsley - Stockport) - Loan
Cosgrove, well acquainted with League One, arrives at Stockport without much fanfare. But this is one of those über-appealing get-us-over-the-line signings. Dave Challinor’s side relies heavily on Kyle Wootton, and by adding a player who fits the Wootton mould — someone who will win aerial duels and bring others into play — they can ease the burden and share the load. That matters. It keeps Stockport fresher for longer in matches and also allows them to reduce their targetman’s minutes through rotation. Cosgrove fits the bill as an option from the bench who can also start some games.
What doesn’t quite fit is why Barnsley are loaning out a striker to bring in an unknown quantity, in Bastia’s Clement Rodrigues, thus strengthening a direct rival. Make it make sense. The impact of this transfer may end up being completely intangible, but it could also be very tangible. You know, the brass tacks: goals and assists, leading to points and potentially prizes. Cosgrove does have only three goal contributions to his name (1G, 2A), but those have come from the equivalent of 9x 90s. A small improvement here, a few more minutes there, and who knows how much this switch could hit the Tykes?
[17] Dara Costelloe (LW/ST) - [Burnley - Northampton] - Loan
Ali correctly identified Costelloe for a TOTAL RECALL in January, writing that a player with his mobility, versatility, work rate and finishing "has no place in a League Two relegation battle". So, how about a League One relegation battle instead?
Following Costelloe's half-dozen goal contributions in 1,200 minutes with Accrington, Burnley have redirected the 22-year-old Irish forward to Kevin Nolan's Northampton, whose three goals at the weekend matched their collective tally across the previous six games. He should improve Cobblers’ counter-attacking play, which is vital for any side near the bottom, and he could be a decent foil for Tom Eaves centrally or provide an option on the left.
[18] Liam Fraser (CM) - (Unattached - Crawley) - Free
Crawley never disappoint. Well, that's not quite true – they've found ever new and innovative ways to disappoint their fans at times – but we can rely on them these days to throw a curveball into the deadline day mix, and where better for a curveball than across the pond? This may not have the "...what?" factor of their signing Benjamin Tanimu from Tanzania's Singida Black Stars last summer, but picking up a Canadian international who has spent nearly all of his 10-year career in the USA is plenty exotic – and more importantly for Crawley, he's pretty good.
The 26-year-old midfielder operates from deep and is progressing with his passing, while winning the majority of his defensive duels. It took several years and a couple of Belgian second-division loans for Fraser to finally start MLS games on the regular, but he made a home for himself in FC Dallas' midfield last year until a groin injury, requiring surgery, ended his season as June turned to July. That means he's gone a long time without football, and time isn't a commodity in rich supply at Crawley right now. Nonetheless, he can bring experience and calm to their fight for survival.
[19] Kyreece Lisbie (ST) - [Brentford - Colchester] - Undisclosed
ColU, the busiest club for incomings this Deadline Day, have successfully coaxed 21-year-old Kyreece Lisbie down the A12. He follows the road well-driven by his dad, Kevin, who enjoyed two spells of his own in Essex – it’s the only way. Kyreece is not his dad, however (nor his twin, Kyrell, who scored for Cray Valley Paper Mills against Charlton in last season’s FA Cup). ColU’s new man is a confident dribbler who looks to progress his side up the pitch; he also knows the value of hard work, having dropped into the Isthmian League before signing for Watford and then Brentford.
Colchester needed attacking reinforcements and signed two more, with Anthony Scully returning from Portsmouth and Ken Adoh joining on loan from Norwich, while right-back Kane Vincent-Young also signed a short-term deal – plenty of returnees, but how about the returns? Danny Cowley’s side look well-set for survival now, so the next few months are about progressing the side into one that compete at the top end of League Two.
[20] Lee Myung-Jae (LB) - [Ulsan HD - Birmingham] - Free
This free pick-up is an example of a club knowing and trusting a market well enough to make an unusual move. Bringing in a 31-year-old full back on a free transfer, regardless of their status as an international player, is rare for a title-chasing team even with a domestic signing, but to trust that Lee will a) strengthen Birmingham’s promotion stranglehold and then b) retain his effectiveness in the Championship, which surely has to be the plan, is an impressively bold move by the club’s recruitment team.
There are definite indications in Lee’s 2024 K-League data that he will fit Chris Davies’ playing style at Birmingham. With very high playmaking attributes, he clearly enjoys being on the ball in Korea. Whether he is afforded the time and space to do that from left-back in League One or the Championship is another question. However, this deal does suggest that the international free agent market is a viable route to go down, if your club's talent identification spreads their net wide enough. There’s still talent available to fill gaps now, despite the window closing, and the pick of these players are currently being featured in the GBE Expert Hub’s free agents week.
All 94 Deadline Day Deals
Championship
Yuri Ribiero (LB) - [Braga - Blackburn] - Undisclosed
Cauley Woodrow (ST) - [Luton - Blackburn] - Loan
Emmanuel Dennis (ST) - [Nottingham Forest- Blackburn] - Loan
Marcus Edwards (RW) - [Sporting CP - Burnley] - Loan
Jaydon Banel (LW) - [Ajax - Burnley] - Undisclosed
Will Alves (WG) - [Leicester - Cardiff] - Loan
Harrison Armstrong (CM) - [Everton - Derby] - Loan
John Egan (CB) - [Burnley-Hull] - Undisclosed
Lasse Nordås (ST) - [Tromsø - Luton] - Undisclosed
Samuel Iling-Junior (LW) - [Aston Villa - Middlesbrough] - Loan
Kelechi Iheanacho (ST) - [Sevilla - Middlesbrough] - Loan
Zac Sturge (LB) - [Chelsea - Millwall] - Loan
Benicio Baker-Boaitey (RW) - [Brighton - Millwall] - Undisclosed
Zac Lovelace (AM) - [Rangers - Millwall] - Undisclosed
Ruairi McConville (CB) - [Brighton - Norwich] - Undisclosed
Jacob Wright (CM) - [Man City - Norwich] - Loan (option to buy)
Malachi Boateng (CM) - [Hearts - Plymouth] - Undisclosed
Ben Killip (GK) - [Barnsley - Portsmouth] - Undisclosed
Kaide Gordon (FW) - [Liverpool - Portsmouth]- Loan
Ryan Porteous (CB) - [Watford - Preston] - Loan
Esquerdinha (LB) - [Fluminense - QPR] - Undisclosed (reported 135k)
Archie O'Brien (AM) - [Hertford Town - QPR] - Undisclosed
Harvey Vale (LB/AM) - [Chelsea - QPR] - Undisclosed
Rob Holding (CB) - [Crystal Palace- Sheffield United]- Loan
Christian Nwachukwu (WG) - [Botev Plovdiv - Sheffield United] - Undisclosed
Jefferson Caceres (LW) - [FBC Melgar - Sheffield United] - Undisclosed
Lewis O'Brien (CM) - [Nottingham Forest - Swansea] - Loan
Caleb Wiley (LB) - [Chelsea - Watford] - Loan
Travis Akomeah (CB) - [Chelsea - Watford] - Undisclosed
Tammer Bany (AM/ST) - (Randers - West Brom) - Undisclosed
League One
Dexter Lembikisa (RWB) - [Wolves - Barnsley] - Loan
Clement Rodrigues (ST) - [Bastia - Barnsley] - Loan (option to buy)
Lee Myung-Jae (LB) - [Ulsan HD - Birmingham] - Free
Taylor Gardner-Hickman (RB/CM) - [Bristol City - Birmingham] - Loan made permanent
Myles Roberts (GK) - [Watford - Bristol Rovers] - Loan
Sil Swinkels (CB) - [Aston Villa - Bristol Rovers] - Loan
Michael Reindorf (ST) - [Cardiff - Bristol Rovers] - Loan
Kyran Lofthouse - (RWB) - [Barnsley - Burton] - Loan
Nathan Bishop (GK) - [Sunderland - Cambridge] - Loan
Tom McIntyre (CB) - [Portsmouth - Charlton] - Loan
Alex Gilbert (AM) - [Middlesbrough - Charlton] - Loan
Liam Fraser (CM) - [Unattached - Crawley] - Free
Ed Turns (CB) - [Brighton - Exeter] - Undisclosed
Angus MacDonald (CB) - [Aberdeen to Exeter] - Free
Andrew Oluwabori (LW) - [FC Halifax Town - Exeter] - Undisclosed
Tawanda Chirewa (LW/AM) - [Wolves - Huddersfield] - Loan
Rarmani Edmonds-Green (CB) - [Charlton - Leyton Orient] - Undisclosed
Randell Williams (RW) - [Bolton - Leyton Orient] - Undisclosed
Caylan Vickers (AM) - [Brighton - Mansfield] - Loan
Jordan Rhodes (ST) - [Blackpool - Mansfield] - Loan
Ben Perry (CM) - [Nottingham Forest - Northampton] - Loan
Dara Costelloe (LW/ST) - [Burnley - Northampton] - Loan
Joe Andrews (CM) - [Chippenham - Peterborough] - Undisclosed
Tyler Bindon (CB) - [Nottingham Forest - Reading] - Loan
Billy Bodin (RW) - [Burton - Reading] - Loan
Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu (CM) - [Luton to Rotherham] - Loan
Vadaine Oliver (ST) - [Bradford - Shrewsbury] - Loan
Kyle Edwards (WG) - [Oxford - Stevenage] - Free
Brad Hills (CB) - [Norwich - Stockport] - Loan
Owen Moxon (CM) - [Portsmouth - Stockport] - Undisclosed
Sam Cosgrove (ST) - [Barnsley - Stockport] - Loan
Owen Dale (LW) - [Oxford - Wigan] - Loan
Will Norris (GK) - [Portsmouth - Wycombe] - Free
Fin Back (RB) - [Nottingham Forest - Wycombe]- Undisclosed
Xavier Simons (CM) - [Hull - Wycombe] - Loan
League Two
Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh (CM) - [Southampton - Accrington] - Loan
Ben Whitfield (WG) - [Burton Albion - Barrow] - Loan
Joe Hilton (GK) - [Blackburn - Bradford] - Undisclosed
Romoney Crichlow (CB) - [Peterborough - Bradford] - Undisclosed
Tayo Adaramola (LWB) - [Crystal Palace - Bradford] - Loan
Maldini Kacurri (CB) - [Arsenal - Bromley] - Loan
Marcus Ifill (LW) - [Brighton - Bromley] - Loan
Timothee Dieng (CM) - [Gillingham - Cheltenham] - Loan
Tommy Backwell (CM/AM) - [Bristol City - Cheltenham] - Undisclosed
Kane Vincent-Young (RB) - [Unattached - Colchester] - Free
Anthony Scully (FW) - [Portsmouth - Colchester] - Loan
Kyreece Lisbie (ST) - [Brentford - Colchester] - Undisclosed
Ken Aboh (ST) - [Norwich - Colchester] - Loan
Louie Marsh (AM/ST) - [Sheffield Utd - Fleetwood] - Loan
Andy Smith (CB) - [Hull - Gillingham] - Loan
Dom Corness (CM) - [Liverpool - Gillingham] - Loan
Ben Fox (CM) - [Northampton - Harrogate] - Undisclosed
Connal Trueman (GK) - [Millwall - MK Dons] - Undisclosed
Travis Patterson (LB) - [Aston Villa - MK Dons] - Loan
Danilo Orsi (ST) - [Burton - MK Dons] - Loan
Ged Garner (ST) - [Barrow - Morecambe] - Loan
Mai Traore (ST) - [Fredrikstad - Notts County] - Undisclosed
Finn Ashworth (AM) - [Wolves - Port Vale] - Loan
Connor Ripley (GK) - [Port Vale - Swindon] - Undisclosed
Louis Jackson (CB) - [Manchester United - Tranmere] - Loan
Sam Mather (LW) - [Manchester United - Tranmere] - Loan
Alfie Chang (CM) - [Birmingham - Walsall] - Loan
Darius Lipsiuc (CM) - [Stoke - Walsall] - Loan
Ellis Harrison (ST) - [MK Dons - Walsall] - Loan
Lee is the 5th Korean at Birmingham if you include the Women's team. Part of the strategy is to recruit internationals and it makes sense from a player welfare as well as marketing perspective to concentrate on certain nationalities. We have two Icelanders and two Japanese as well.
On the playing side, Paik has been a great success since joining from the K league so Craig Gardner and his team must have confidence that one of the top players from that league is a good standard. Whether Lee is anything more than a short term replacement for the injured Buchanan remains to be seen but will provide welcome back up to and hopefully competition for Cochrane who does get time on the ball as the LCB in possession.