[themaclad]

Coventry City have signed Brandon Thomas-Asante from Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion.

The 25-year-old former Salford City striker has signed a four-year deal to become the Sky Blues' fifth summer signing for an undisclosed fee.

He is also the third Albion player from last season's Championship play-off semi-final squad to find a new home in under 24 hours following Conor Townsend's £750,000 move to Ipswich Town and Matt Phillips' move to Oxford United.

Thomas-Asante was signed by then Albion boss Steve Bruce from League Two club Salford City for an undisclosed fee on August deadline day 2022.

Brandon Thomas-Asante scores Albion's second goal in last season's 2-0 win at Coventry
Image source,Rex Features
Image caption,
Thomas-Asante scored Albion's second goal in last season's 2-0 win at Coventry

He scored nine league and cup goals before the end of the season - and added a further 11 Championship strikes in 2023-24, including one against the Sky Blues.

Another Championship side, Hull City, had reportedly also been keen on Thomas-Asante but the Sky Blues now have former midfielder George Boateng back at the club as part of their backroom team and the duo share Ghana international connections.

Thomas-Asante won his first cap for Ghana in a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic in June.

“Brandon is a powerful and pacy striker who has goalscoring pedigree at this level plus a great attitude and work-rate," said Sky Blues boss Robins.

“He can play across the front line and will further strengthen our attacking options."

Thomas-Asante began his career with his home-town club Milton Keynes Dons, making his professional debut at the age of 17 in 2016.

He had loans at Sutton United and Oxford City before leaving MK in 2019, then had a short spell back in non-league at Ebbsfleet United before joining League Two side Salford.

He scored 30 goals in 126 games and helped his side win the EFL Trophy before being recommended to the Baggies by his Salford team-mate Matt Smith, Bruce's son-in-law.

[themaclad]

Coventry City have made their sixth signing of the summer transfer window by bringing in teenage striker Norman Bassette from French second-tier side Caen.

Bassette, 19, has signed on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

“Norman is a confident young man already at 19 and we look forward to working with him," said Sky Blues boss Mark Robins.

"He’s a young player, with good experience. He has a lot of really good attributes and a huge amount of potential."

Bassette, who signed his first professional contract with Caen in 2021, has represented Belgium at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 level.

He made his professional debut in September 2021, before scoring his first Ligue 2 goal for Caen the following season.

Bassette scored five times in 22 games on a season-long loan in 2023-24 with Belgian top-flight side KV Mechelen.

[themaclad]

Coventry City have completed the signing of Swansea City midfielder Matt Grimes for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a half-year deal.

Devon-born Grimes, 29, began his career with Exeter City and joined Swansea when they were a Premier League side in 2015.

He had loans with Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Northampton Town, but has been a Swansea fixture in recent seasons, taking his tally to 333 appearances for the club.

It took three separate bids from Championship play-off hopefuls Coventry to get their first January move done - boss Frank Lampard's first signing.

"I've admired him for a long time," Lampard told BBC CWR. "He's one of the best midfield players in the league.

"Good experience, technical ability. He understands the league.

"He feels like a leader in the dressing room already so we're very pleased to have him with us.

"It's always a balance in the team to try and have experience within it. People who know what it takes can help the younger players alongside them to improve and help us improve.

"Most strong teams have that nice blend of youth and experience. We have a bit of that already but it's nice to have brought in more experience."

Grimes has started all Swansea's last 88 Championship matches - a record going back to early March 2023.

"It's a testament to how he looks after himself and his robust nature to be able to do that," said Lampard. "He's done that for quite a long time. He's a regular player so obviously we hope that continues with us."

"We've got a great player," he told BBC CWR. "It just shows the direction the club's going in. I think it's a big statement.

"He's an experienced player, who has played a lot of games and is always available. And he's a great guy to have in the changing room and off the pitch.

"On the pitch he speaks for himself with what he does. Another calm head who can control the game. He's a great passer, can get us up the pitch and does the dirty work as well.

"When you see a player such as Matt come in with the calibre that he is and knowing what he's done in the Championship, it gives us a big boost."

[themaclad]

Coventry City goalkeeper Ben Wilson has signed a contract extension until the summer of 2027.

The 32-year-old has made 117 appearances since signing from Bradford City in 2019 and kept 45 clean sheets.

In 2023, he broke the club record for the most clean sheets in a single season with 22 in 46 games and also scored a goal to earn the Sky Blues a point in a game against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

"I've been here a number of years now and I was getting to the stage where I wasn't sure what was going to be happening next season so, to extend my contract, I'm absolutely thrilled," Wilson said.

"I can't wait to get going and I want to make more memories and push to the very top."

Wilson has only played six games this season, the most recent in October, with Oliver Dovin the regular first-choice under Frank Lampard and former boss Mark Robins.

[themaclad]

Japanese winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto has signed a new two-year contract with Coventry City.

Sakamoto, 28, who signed in July 2023 from KV Oostende when Mark Robins was still City boss, is now tied to the Sky Blues until the summer of 2027.

He has scored 11 goals in 72 games for City, three of which have come in his four months working under new boss Frank Lampard.

"I'm so happy to sign a new contract," he said. "I am so happy and grateful.

"I was worried about a few things, because I have moved my family to the UK from Japan.

"It had been difficult because of my English, but the gaffer, coaches, my team-mates, the staff and the supporters have always helped helped me settle into this country and at this club. This is a reason why I wanted to stay."

Sakamoto became the first Asian player to sign for the Sky Blues when he arrived from Belgian side Oostende, after initially joining them on loan from Cerezo Osaka in his native Japan in January 2022.

He made his international debut in June 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Tajikistan and has since won one further cap.

Lampard's City have slumped to seventh in the Championship after three defeats in their last four matches - but they are only a point off the play-off places with six games left.

[themaclad]

Coventry City have signed defender Miguel Ángel Brau on a free transfer from Spanish second-tier club Granada.

The 23-year-old left-back has agreed a four-year deal and is head coach Frank Lampard's first recruit of the summer transfer window.

After coming through Granada's youth system and B side, Brau broke into the first team, making his La Liga debut on the final day of the 2023-24 season against Girona as the club were relegated back to the second tier.

Last term he made 28 appearances as Granada missed out on a play-off place on the final day of the campaign.

Brau said joining the Sky Blues was "a great honour" and added: "I know we will enjoy a lot of success together and I'm very grateful to everyone who has helped me to arrive here."

He will officially complete his move on 1 July, subject to international clearance and being granted a work permit.

[themaclad]

Coventry City have completed the signing of Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be about £3.5m.

The 22-year-old has come through the youth ranks at Villa and made his Premier League debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of March - one of three substitute appearances.

He has also spent time on loan in the English Football League with Swindon Town, MK Dons, Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle in the past three seasons, and was on loan with Preston North End last term, winning the club's player of the season and young player of the season awards.

Coventry's fellow Championship side Stoke City were also interested in Kesler-Hayden but he has opted to the Sky Blues, becoming boss Frank Lampard's second signing of the summer after Spanish full-back Miguel Angel Brau.

"Words can't describe how happy I am to be at this club and how excited I am to play in front of the supporters," Kesler-Hayden told the club's website., external

"I've spoken with the gaffer [Frank Lampard]. He was a big part of why I signed. I believe in the project, and he showed me some videos and analysis of how I can fit into the team and for me that made it seem like the perfect place for me to come."

[themaclad]

Coventry City defender Luis Binks has signed for Danish club Brondby for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old centre-back joined the Sky Blues from Italian side Bologna on loan two seasons ago before making the move permanent last summer.

Binks played 22 games in the 2024-25 season as Coventry reached the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs where they lost to Sunderland, who were later promoted.

Including his loan with the Sky Blues, Binks made a total of 52 appearances for the club.

"Everyone at Coventry City wishes Luis the best of luck for the future and we thank him for his contribution during his time with us," a club statement read.