City have completed the loan signing of right winger Chieo Ogbene from Premier League side Ipswich Town until January.
The 29-year-old Republic of Ireland international arrives at the ProAmpac Stadium with significant experience of Championship football and adds pace, power and leadership to the Imps squad.
Ogbene said: “I’m really excited to be here - I had a positive conversation with Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw and felt really wanted. “This is a good opportunity and a great platform for myself to help the club, but the club can also help me. I’ve been around the Championship for a while, and I know it’s a physical league. We know how tough it can be and how it’s physically demanding.
“You need a team that can buy in and pull in the same direction. Looking at this team and this football club, and the success of last year, the mindset here mirrors what I want to do, and I really want to be part of it.
“I bring pace and power, I’m willing to work hard and I’m energetic. I’ve got experience as well, so I’d hope that I can make an impact for the team and help the team on both sides of the pitch.
“I’ve played across the front three before, right wing and right wing-back, so I’m versatile and I’m willing to give everything I have for this jersey.”
Sporting director Jez George added: “We have tried to identify a player with Chieo’s profile for the wide right position in our team all summer, so we are delighted with this signing at the close of the window. In reality, we didn't anticipate being able to sign a player of Chieo’s calibre and pedigree, but these opportunities sometimes present themselves towards the transfer deadline, and this was one we had to take.
"Once this was a possibility, we moved quickly to do everything possible to convince Chieo that we are the right club for him. To have managed to sign him against far bigger and more established clubs in the Championship speaks volumes for how Chieo sees us and what he values most in this move. We know that he can have a massive impact for us, on and off the pitch, and we are delighted to secure him as our final signing of the summer. We would also like to thank Ipswich Town and Chieo’s representatives for their help in this process.”
