+- Sports Babble - sports forum (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk)
+-- Forum: Football (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: English Football Leagues (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=2)
+---- Forum: Sky Bet League One (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=79)
+----- Forum: Exeter City (https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=125)
+----- Thread: Exeter news (/showthread.php?tid=12310)
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 29-08-2024
Exeter City have signed Amani Richards on a season-long loan from Premier League side Leicester City.
The 19-year-old forward has featured three times so far this season for the Foxes under-21 side, scoring three goals in all competitions, including a brace against Liverpool U-21 last week.
In July, the forward signed a new three-year deal at the King Power Stadium.
Exeter boss Gary Caldwell said: "He is the perfect player for us at this moment in time".
"He'll bring speed, a one vs one quality which we feel we've missed since Yanic's [Wildschut] been injured.
"He's someone who can bring speed and threat, and hopefully get the fans excited and off their seats because he's a real flair player."
Richards becomes the Grecians' 11th summer signing, subject to EFL approval.
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 13-11-2024
Free-agent midfielder Kevin McDonald has returned to Exeter City 17 months after leaving the club.
The 36-year-old has agreed a deal until January, having left Bradford City at the end of August, and has been training with the Grecians since.
McDonald played 23 times for the Bantams following his arrival in June last year and had a spell as caretaker manager after Mark Hughes was sacked in October 2023.
The former Scotland international - who has had spells at Fulham, Wolves, Sheffield United and Burnley - played 11 games for Exeter in the first half of 2023, scoring three goals.
"Kev has been with us for a few months now, working hard and getting fit," Exeter boss Gary Caldwell told the club website.
"We felt like it was an opportunity to get him in on a more permanent basis - it's only short term, but we felt like getting him as part of the squad because of the level he has shown."
McDonald will also be used in a mentoring role for some of City's young players including highly rated midfielder Jake Richards.
"I've been impressed in training with the younger lads and the senior lads and the intensity and development has been good to see," McDonald said.
"It was a conversation I had with the manager and it's something I like to be involved with as I'm naturally vocal on the pitch. If I can use this to help support Jake and the younger players then I'm delighted to."
Describing the role as the "best of both worlds", he added: "I still feel I've got a lot to offer as a player and until that has gone I'm excited to still be a player."
The side is currently 11th in the table.
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 05-12-2024
Exeter City defender Jack Fitzwater has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2027.
The 27-year-old has returned to first-team action this season after missing most of the last campaign with ulcerative colitis.
Fitzwater, who joined in 2023 after leaving Livingston, has played nine times this season.
"I couldn't be more grateful to the gaffer and the club for showing a lot of faith in me in handing me this contract," Fitzwater told BBC Radio Devon.
"I know I probably haven't played as much as I'd like to.
"But the stuff I've been doing behind the scenes has obviously caught the gaffer's eye and whenever I've had to play or step up I think I have done and I've played quite well."
Exeter boss Gary Caldwell praised Fitzwater after he made his first start of the season in October having fully recovered from his illness.
The Scot says he is happy to have secured Fitzwater's services for another two and a half years.
"Fitzy's been brilliant since he came to the club," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.
"He's a brilliant character, a great trainer and when needed he's come into the team and done really well.
"He's somebody that wants to commit to the club - we want to commit and have a nucleus of players that we believe in, that we can move forward with.
"We've done it recently with Jack Aitchison and Ilmari Niskanen in giving them longer contracts, and Fitzy falls into that category as well."
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 13-01-2025
Exeter City have signed midfielder Joel Colwill from Championship side Cardiff City on loan until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Cheltenham Town, where he made 28 appearances in all competitions before being recalled on Friday, and scored nine goals.
Colwill, a Wales U21 international, has five first team appearances for the Bluebirds after making his senior debut in the Carabao Cup in August 2023 and featured twice as a substitute in the Championship towards the end of last season.
The midfielder, younger brother of Wales and Cardiff midfielder Rubin, watched the Grecians' 3-1 win over Oxford United in the Emirates FA Cup and is set to link up with the side for training on Tuesday.
Manager Gary Caldwell told the club website, external: "He is someone we have been tracking for a while. Not only that, but other clubs have been tracking him as well so we are delighted to get him.
"When he goes on loan and does as well as he did he gets attention, and we're delighted Cardiff feel we are the right fit for him, and that he does too."
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 20-01-2025
Winger Mustapha Carayol has left Exeter City at the end of his short-term contract.
The experienced 36-year-old joined the League One Grecians in September and played eight matches.
His last appearance came in the 3-2 win at Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy at the end of October.
"We spoke to him just before the turn of the year," Exeter manager Gary Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.
"He was brilliant for the time that he was here, a brilliant character, great experience, we used him in games where he really contributed whether he came off the bench or he started.
"It was a time when a lot of wide players Yannick (Wildschut), Demi (Mitchell), Pat (Jones), were all injured and he really filled that void.
"But he's moved on because of those players coming back and being available."
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 24-01-2025
Exeter City have signed teenage Brentford winger Tony Yogane on loan until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old had made one appearance for the Bees as a substitute in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
Yogane came up through the Sheffield Wednesday academy and this will be his first move away from Premier League Brentford.
He is the third Bees player to move to Exeter on loan in the last two seasons - midfielder Ryan Trevitt was part of the squad last season while central defender Tristan Crama had an impressive spell in the first half of this season.
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 30-01-2025
Exeter City have re-signed Brentford midfielder Ryan Trevitt on loan until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old joined the Grecians at the start of last season and scored five goals in 23 appearances.
But his time at the League One club was cut short after he suffered a serious injury in December 2023 and he returned to the Premier League side.
Since returning to fitness he has started two Carabao Cup ties for Brentford this season and was a late substitute in their 3-1 loss at Tottenham in September.
"He's obviously a player that has been here before and performed exceptionally well when he was here," Exeter manager Gary Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.
"I've kept in touch with him and every time I speak to Brentford I always say 'What's Ryan doing?' because he's such a good footballer.
"The supporters' connection with him and what he did here was special, and I think we've probably got an even better player in terms of he's gone back to Brentford, has played a few games for them and is more mature.
"So we're absolutely thrilled to bring him back, it's a really big signing for us and somebody who'll impact the squad in a really positive way."
Centre-back Tristan Crama impressed so much on his season-long deal at St James Park that Brentford recalled him earlier this month before sending him to Championship side Millwall.
Last week Exeter brought in Bees winger Tony Yogane until the end of the season.
Caldwell says it is part of a growing relationship between the top -flight side and Exeter, that is benefitting both clubs.
"When I was first here I went for a day and watched their training, spoke to lots of different people at the club," Caldwell explained.
"My personal link is Steven Pressley, who's the individual coach within Brentford and I've known him from my playing days and speak with him regularly
"I think the big thing is they trust us with their players. They know the environment we've got here, they know we look after their players and help them develop their players to the level they want them to be.
"So it's a good connection and we want that to continue with with another positive loan and with Tony and Ryan as well."
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 04-02-2025
Exeter City have signed centre-back Ed Turns, external from Brighton and forward Andrew Oluwabori, external from Halifax Town, both for undisclosed fees, as well as free agent Angus MacDonald., external
Turns and Oluwabori have signed two-and-a-half-year deals, while MacDonald has agreed a short-term contract until the end of the season.
Turns has captained Premier League club Brighton's under-21 side after coming through their academy and has made two first-team appearances in the Carabao Cup.
The 22-year-old, who is also a Wales-Under 21 international, has spent part of the last two seasons on loan at League One side Leyton Orient and also had a spell with Crewe.
Oluwabori, 23, made 65 league appearances for National League side Halifax, scoring 10 goals.
He began his career at Huddersfield Town before moving to Peterborough United in 2021 and has spent time on loan at Boreham Wood and Yeovil Town.
Experienced centre-back MacDonald, 32, most recently played for Aberdeen and has represented the likes of Torquay United, Barnsley, Hull City, Rotherham United and Swindon Town during his career.
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 06-05-2025
Exeter City have signed Rangers central defender Johnly Yfeko on a two-year deal after triggering an option in his loan.
City have paid an undisclosed fee for the 21-year-old, who impressed in 13 games before missing much of the season after a hamstring injury he first suffered in October.
City have also taken up options to extend the deals of 34-year-old Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis and fellow forward Jay Bird, 24.
Magennis has scored 12 goals in 46 games since joining last summer, while Bird has scored five goals in 10 games on loan at Rochdale this year.
"I spoke to Johnly today and said he has every tool at his disposal to be a top, top player; now he has to make sure he stays on the pitch next year," Exeter manager Gary Caldwell told the club website.
"He's professional; he's consistent with his work because his ceiling is huge for what he can achieve in his career, and we're delighted to sign him this summer."
Fourteen players are already under contract for the 2025-26 season, while eight players have been released by the club at the end of their deals.
Experienced defenders Angus MacDonald and Ben Purrington head the list along with Kenya international Vincent Harper and centre-back Cheick Diabate.
Reserve goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald is also leaving, as are academy graduates Mitch Beardmore, Gabe Billington and Max Edgecombe.
City are in contract negotiations with midfielders Caleb Watts, Jake Richards and Pedro Borges and young goalkeepers Harry Lee and Frankie Phillips.
Experienced trio Kevin McDonald, Demetri Mitchell and Yanic Wildschut have all been invited back to pre-season at City, along with forward Pat Jones, although they have not been offered deals at this stage.
Wildschut missed all of the season after suffering a knee ligament injury in Exeter's final pre-season game last August, while Mitchell has also suffered from knee problems.
RE: Exeter news - themaclad - 23-05-2025
Exeter City have criticised Caleb Watts' decision to turn down a new contract with the League One club.
The 23-year-old midfielder has agreed terms with a rival club having been a free agent this summer.
Watts, who has suffered a number of injuries over the course of his two-season spell at St James Park, scored five goals in 48 games in all competitions.
"The dedication of the club's coaching and medical departments, who worked tirelessly on his fitness, enabled Watts to play over 1500 minutes this season, which is the most in his senior career so far," an Exeter City statement read.
"While we understand this is an offer Caleb could not refuse, we are disappointed he has decided not to repay the commitment and faith shown to him during his time at the club."
Watts signed a succession of short-term deals after first joining the club from Southampton in the summer of 2023 and scored twice in the final four games of this season.
"As a supporter-owned club with a unique and sustainable model, we take great pride in consistently competing at this level despite operating with one of the smallest budgets in the division," Exeter City's statement added.
"We were unable to come close to matching the financial terms offered to Caleb by another club."