The January transfer window has come to a close for all the teams across England, and we give a club by club review of their comings and goings in League Two. Obviously teams across England can still sign unattached players, or even bring players in on youth loans, but the window is there to allow clubs to bring in the players they’re after.
In League Two, the majority of the transfers have come in the form of loan deals, with many others arriving on a free transfer. It’s completely different to the Premier League and it’s multi-million pound deals.
League Two January Transfer Round-Up
League leaders Shrewsbury have purchased well, bringing in experienced Fleetwood Town midfielder Keith Southern and young French Sunderland striker Mikael Mandron in terms of loan deals. They also managed on transfer deadline day to snap up Peterborough United striker Tyrone Barnett for an undisclosed fee, with the 29-year-old having been on loan at Oxford United earlier this season.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has made five decent aquasitions in the window with his Brewers side sitting second in the league. 19-year-old midfielder Ivan Calero and 23-year-old defender Tom Naylor both arrive on loan from parent club Derby County, with experienced goalkeeper Scott Shearer coming in on loan until the end of the season from Crewe. The Brewers have also found striker Abdenasser El Khayati on a free transfer from Dutch side F.C Den Bosch, and signed defender Stefan Maletic for an undisclosed fee from Archilles ’29. Lee Belly has joined Macclesfield Town on loan, whilst former Stoke City defender Rory Delap has retired.
Wycombe have been the quietest side in the automatic promotion places, bringing in former Jamaica international Marcus Bean from Colchester United on a free transfer. Gareth Ainsworth has seen more departures than arrivals, with midfielders Josh Scowan and Paris Cowan-Hall leaving to join Barnsley and Millwall respectively, both for an undisclosed fee. Anthony Stewart has left to join Crewe on loan.
Luton Town lead the teams in the play-off places, and have brought in young Bournemouth striker Jayden Stockley on loan, with 27-year-old Ryan Hall joining from Rotherham United on a free transfer.
Like Luton, Southend have only seen a couple of players arrive. Joe Piggott originally had arrived on a month long loan from Charlton Athletic, but after a month of impressive performance he has signed an extension until the end of the season. Phil Brown has also brought in Wolves youngster Jake Cassidy, also on loan. Connor Clifford, Jason Williams and Jack Bridge have all left on loan, to Barnet, Welling and Chelmsford respectively.
Newport County have slipped to 6th following three straight defeats but despite that, manager Justin Edinburgh doesn’t feel the need to bring many new faces to Rodney Parade. 21-year-old striker Miles Storey arrives from Swindon Town on loan, whilst Christian Jolly leaves to join Conference club Grimsby on a free transfer.
Bury occupy the final play-off place, and manager David Flitchcroft has purchased well this window. Young right-back Joe Riley joins from Bolton Wanderers on an undisclosed fee, having previously been on loan at Oxford United earlier in the season. Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope and Bristol City defender Adam El-Abd both arrive on loan, whilst former Everton man Hallam Hope joins for an undisclosed fee.
Stevenage sit just outside the playoffs, and Graham Westley has been busy in aiming to achieve promotion this season. Portuguese youngster Bruno Andrade and 21-year-old striker Danny Johnson both arrive on loan, whilst 19-year-old midfielder Tom Conlon arrives from Peterborough for an undisclosed fee. David McAllister, who had previously been on loan at the Boro from Shrewsbury, now joins on a permanent basis.
Exeter City saw the biggest money transfer take place, when 19-year-old midfielder Matt Grimes left to join Premier League side Swansea City in a deal estimated to be worth around £1.75 million. Despite this enormous fee, Paul Tisdale didn’t spend a penny, with experienced defender Jamie McAllister and 23-year-old midfielder Tom McCready both arriving on a free transfer. Ryan Hanley and David Noble have both joined on loan deals from Swindon Town and Oldham respectively.
Plymouth have been one of the busier sides in the window, bringing in 22-year-old defender Anthony O’Connor from Blackburn and 21-year-old striker Ryan Brunt from Bristol Rovers, both coming in undisclosed fee deals. In on loan for the Pilgrims come Chesterfield striker Drew Talbot, young Bristol City midfielder Bobby Reid, 23-year-old Birmingham midfielder Olly Lee and MK Dons defender Tom Flanagan. Leaving the club include Nathan Thomas who joins Scottish side Motherwell, and Marvin Morgan who joins bottom club Hartlepool on loan.
Northampton Town have won four games on the bounce, and manager Chris Wilder has seen some faces arrive that he hopes can match that ambition. Right back Brendan Moloney and midfielder Ricky Holmes both arrive on loan, from Yeovil and Portsmouth respectively. In addition, Wilder has also brought in four faces all coming in on free transfers. Welsh Under-21 forward Billy Bodin joins from Torquay, unattached midfielder Joel Byrom and 32-year-old left back Tom Newey in from Oxford United. Jason Taylor, who had been on loan at Cobblers, had been released by Cheltenham Town, so Northampton have snapped him up on a permanent deal.
Wimbledon boss Neil Ardley has made some decent signings this window, with Reading striker Craig Tanner and Cardiff defender Adedeji Oshilaja both arriving on loan. The Dons have also seen experienced striker David Connolly arrive from Pompey, Swindon midfielder Jake Reeves and former Oxford United favourite Alfie Potter, all coming in on free transfers. The Dons also see Harry Pell leave, who will join up with former striker Jack Midson at Eastleigh.
Despite being knocked out of the F.A. Cup replay on Tuesday, Cambridge United have made some decent signings this window. Young midfielder Gearoid Morrissey joins from Cork City on a free transfer, whilst 19-year-old defender Dominic Ball joins from Spurs on loan. Also on loan come two players that have made immediate impacts for the club, midfielders Sullay Kaikai and Cameron McGeehan, who are both just 19,
Oxford United left their transfer dealings quite late this window, with experienced goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown arriving on deadline day until the end of the season following his release from Crawley Town last season. With Joe Riley leaving, and Charlton Athletic calling back left back Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Michael Appleton needed cover at full back, and has snapped up 21-year-old left back Richard Brindley on loan, and right back Joe Skarz on a free transfer, both from Rotherham. They have also managed to sign Burton Albion top scorer Alex MacDonald who arrives on an undisclosed fee. Alfie Potter left to join Wimbledon, defender Michael Raynes has joined Mansfield, and Junior Brown has been released.
Accrington Stanley have lost four games on the bounce, so John Coleman needed to bring in some personnel before they entered a relegation battle. Arriving on free transfers include 25-year-old striker Terry Gornell who joins the club for his third spell, along with former Real Madrid academy midfielder Gerado Bruna and Irish defender Seamus Coneely, both of whom were unattached. In on loan come Matt Macey from Arsenal, Sean Maguire from West Ham and Fleetwood goalkeeper Scott Davies. Luke Simpson and Jay Lynch have left the club, whilst defender Tom Aldred had joined Blackpool on an undisclosed fee.
Tranmere have been one of the busier clubs this window, bringing in nine players. In on loan come strikers Shamir Fenelon from Brighton, and Rory Donnelly from Swansea, who has scored three goals in just four games. Jennison Myrie Williams has extended his loan from Scunthorpe until the end of the season following a string of decent performances, with Steve Jennings and Rob Taylor both arriving in undisclosed fee deals from Port Vale and Mansfield respectively. Left back Lee Molyneux and defender Adam Dugdale both join from Crewe on free transfers, as do centre back Josh Thompson from Colchester and Canadian striker Iain Hume who was unattached. Eliot Richards has left to join Cheltenham on a free transfer.
Pompey have recently slipped into relegation contentio, failing to win in ten games. Experienced defender Paul Robinson joins from Millwall on a free transfer and 20-year-old Fulham defender Josh Passley arrives on loan. In midfield, Andy Awford has loaned in West Ham youngster Paul McCallum, and talented striker Matt Tubbs joins having already scored 12 for Wimbledon this season. Ricky Holmes has left to join Northampton on loan, whilst defender Alex Wynter joins Colchester for an undisclosed fee.
Dagenham and Redbridge have been one of the quietest clubs in the relegation battle bringing in Daniel Carr and winger Alex Jakubiak in on loan from Huddersfield and Watford respectively, along with unattached defender Joe Widdowson on a free transfer. Striker Rhys Murphy has left to join Oldham for an undisclosed figure, a player that manager Wayne Burnett has admitted it will be hard to replace.
Carlisle United have been relatively busy, bringing in defender Nathan Buddle and midfielder Anthony Griffith on free transfers, with 20-year-old defender Matt Young joining from Sheffield Wednesday on loan. Carlisle have also signed promising young striker Charlie Wyke from Middlesbrough, with the 22-year-old arriving for an undisclosed fee.
Cheltenham have been the busiest club this window, rightly so since they have slipped down to 21st. Liverpool trio Kevin Stewart, Lloyd Jones and Jack Dunn all arrive on loan, as do 20-year-olds Wes Burns and Denny Johnstone from Bristol City and Birmingham respectively. Also on loan come 19 year old defender Jake Gray from Torquay, with defender Durrell Berry signing for a free from the same club. Striker Eliot Richards joins from Tranmere on a free, as does 21-year-old midfielder Jordan Wynter from Bristol City. Terry Gornell has left to join Accrington, with Jason Taylor and Raffaele De Vita being released. Striker Byron Harrison has joined Chesterfield on an undisclosed fee.
York City are one place above the drop, and the Minstermen have snapped up Emile Sinclair on loan from Northampton, who incidentally scored on his debut. In on loan come Walsall defender Malvind Benning, 28-year-old Bournemouth defender Stephane Zubar and Peterborough goalkeeper Robert Olejnik. Midfielder Anthony Straker has joined Motherwell on loan.
Into the relegation zone and we find Mansfield and Hartlepool. Mansfield have done well in this window, covering every position. Goalkeepers Lenny Pidgely joins from Newport County on loan as does Leicester man Adam Smith, with 27-year-old defender Michael Raynes joining from Oxford on a free. In midfield, Adam Murray has snapped up winger Matty Blair from Fleetwood on a free transfer, Junior Brown following his release from Oxford and experienced midfielder Ricky Ravenhill for an undisclosed fee from Northampton. The Stags have also signed 24-year-old striker Billy Kee on loan from Scunthorpe. Defender Fergus Bell has left to join Yeovil on a free transfer, whilst midfielder Rob Taylor joins relegation rivals Tranmere for an undisclosed fee. They have also recalled Rakish Bingham from his loan from Hartlepool.
As for Hartlepool, they have snapped up striker Marvin Morgan from Plymouth, midfielder Aaron Tshibola from Reading and 29-year-old David Mirfin from Scunthorpe all arriving on loan deals. Defender Scott Harrison had been on loan from Sunderland, and he has now signed on a permanent basis.
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