[themaclad]

Lincoln City forward Jovon Makama has signed a new three-year deal with the League One club, which runs until the summer of 2027.

The 20-year-old has featured 63 times for the Imps since making his debut in 2022, with a majority of those appearances coming off the bench.

He has started eight of Lincoln's nine League One games this season, and scored twice in all competitions this term.

Makama, who played for Nottingham Forest and Derby County at junior level before joining Lincoln's youth set-up, made his first league start for the Imps in manager Michael Skubala's first home match in charge last November.

"This time last year I was just getting my first few starts in League One," Makama told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"And being the only striker available, I found it very difficult. But having Michael Skubala's support and other staff members' support as well, has definitely helped a lot."

[themaclad]

Lincoln City defender Tendayi Darikwa has signed a one-year contract extension with the League One club.

The 33-year-old former Nottingham Forest, Burnley and Wigan Athletic right-back has made 27 appearances and scored three goals since arriving in the summer.

Darikwa, who returned to English football with Lincoln after a season in the Cyprus top flight with Apollon Limassol, now also has a further 12-month option with the Imps that could keep him at the LNER Stadium until the summer of 2027.

"Tendayi is a an exemplary professional, massively impacting the group with his leadership on and off the pitch since he joined us last summer," Lincoln boss Michael Skubala told the club website.

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Lincoln City have re-signed Sam Clucas from Oldham Athletic, 15 years after the midfielder left the Imps.

Since featuring for his hometown club as a teenager, the now 34-year-old has featured for eight sides across England's top five divisions - including spells in the Premier League with Swansea and Hull City.

Clucas returns to Lincoln on a deal that runs until the end of the season, although there is an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.

Imps boss Michael Skubala said the midfielder would bring "knowledge, experience and leadership" to a side with one of the youngest playing groups in League One.

"This is a different type of signing for the club but a clever one in that Sam is 'coming home' towards the end of a fantastic career, wanting to contribute on and off the pitch," Skubala told the club website., external

"Once we can get him up to speed, we also know that Sam can provide us with cover and competition in a vital area of the pitch.

"He will also help our younger players with the standards that he will set on the training pitch every day."

Clucas spent the past six seasons in the Championship with Stoke and Rotherham, but dropped down to the National League with Oldham this term.

He has made nine appearances across all competitions for the Latics since November, and they say they "exhausted all avenues" to try keep him.

"It became apparent that the lure of returning to his hometown club and future opportunities beyond playing football were too great," Oldham said on their website.

Lincoln director of football Jez George said the signing was not "based on sentiment", and hopes Clucas' influence will be felt beyond the pitch.

"Sam played more than 30 times in the Championship last season and has come here to contribute," George said.

"While no-one knows exactly what that will look like, we believe Sam can do that on and off the pitch, potentially even beyond playing."

Lincoln are 12th in League One, nine points outside the play-off places, ahead of Saturday's game at Northampton Town.

[themaclad]

League One side Lincoln City have signed Derby County striker James Collins on a free transfer.

The 34-year-old spent two-and-a half-years with the the Rams, scoring 19 goals in all competitions last season as they won promotion to the Championship.

But the former Republic of Ireland international has only started one league game this season, and just two in total.

Imps head coach Michael Skubala told the club's website:, external "James is a really important signing for the group and it is a massive statement of intent from the club.

"He is a proven goalscorer, a top professional and will also add leadership to a young squad. He is a double-promotion winner from this league."

[themaclad]

Lincoln City have signed versatile teenage forward Joe Gardner from Nottingham Forest on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 19-year-old has made just one first-team appearance for Forest, which was as a substitute in their FA Cup fourth-round win against Bristol City that went to a penalty shooutout last season.

Gardner - whose loan move comes on the same day that he has agreed a new Forest contract - featured for the Reds' Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy this season, and has scored six goals in 12 appearances for their Premier League 2 side.

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala says Gardner is a player they have been "watching closely for quite some time" and who has been brought in after Jack Moylan suffered a potentially season-ending injury.

"It has been sped along quicker because of the Jack Moylan situation," Skubala told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"We see him as that player with a little bit more of a Jack Moylan-profile that can do special things and open the game up.

"He is a real exciting prospect. We would definitely have looked to do this in the summer, but it has probably been sped along into January with the view to even keep him if he does well."

[themaclad]

Lincoln City striker Freddie Draper has signed a new contract to run until the summer of 2028.

Draper was given his Imps debut as a 17-year-old in October 2021 and has made 61 appearances in total, scoring seven goals.

He found the net 10 times in 24 games on loan at Walsall in 2023-24, and despite four goals in 34 this term, he still feels he is still improving.

"It's not been ideal, how it's gone since coming back from Walsall, I'd like to have done more and carried on from where I left off, but it's a fresh start and I can't wait to show the fans what I can do," he told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"The club have always shown belief in me and now it's on me to repay them. I'm in a good place now and feel I can do that, the more games I'm getting, the fitter I'm getting and then I can obviously score some goals and become myself again."

"It's probably been the toughest part of my career so far, this last six months but I feel stronger for it.

"I still believe that Lincoln haven't seen the best of me, nowhere near the best of me, that's the bit that's been frustrating, and I want that to be released."

Lincoln are 12th in League One, five points outside the play-off places, ahead of Saturday's home game against bottom club Cambridge United.

[themaclad]

Lincoln City have not taken up an option to extend Sam Clucas' stay with the League One club, but have extended an open-ended offer for the midfielder to join the coaching staff.

The 34-year-old former Swansea and Hull City midfielder made just eight appearances and scored one goal for the Imps after re-joining them after 15 years away in January.

He had been playing in the National League with Oldham when he signed, having dropped to non-league level after leaving Rotherham United following their relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2023-24 season.

When Clucas signed, Lincoln boss Michael Skubala said "Sam is 'coming home' towards the end of a fantastic career" - with his initial deal running until the end of the season, while the club had a further 12-month option to extend his stay with his hometown club.

But after Lincoln finished 11th in the table he has been released alongside Tyler Walker, Ali Smith and Jay Benn.

Although, the club clearly expressed a desire to have him back.

"Clucas is keen to continue his playing career, but the Imps have made clear the door is open for him to start his coaching journey with the club when he is ready to do so," the club said in a statement on its website., external

Meanwhile, Lincoln have taken up options to extend the stays of 25-year-old striker Ben House and defender Adam Jackson, 30.

Sean Roughan, Zane Okoro and captain Paudie O'Connor, who has been in talks with Lincoln about a new contract since February, remain is discussions about remaining with the club beyond the end of their contracts in the summer.

"He has been an amazing leader," Skubala said of 27-year-old O'Connor on the latest edition of BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Red Imps Club podcast.

"He has been phenomenal for this club, in my eyes. He has grown, even in the time I've been here he has improved, become a better player and become more of a leader.

"Of course any player of his age wants to try and play at the highest level they can. And it's not always about money, sometimes its about having the opportunity to go and test themselves.

"Our job is to convince Paudie that we want him to be part of us and how we grow in the near future.

"It's not a case of finances in this situation, but it's a question of does he want to lead and keep moving this club in the direction we want him to, and do those two things align?"

[themaclad]

Lincoln City have signed Sonny Bradley on a two-year deal after the centre-back was released by Championship club Derby County at the end of the season.

Bradley last featured for the Rams in January, with the 33-year-old seeing out the final months of the season - and his Derby contract - on loan with Wycombe Wanderers in League One.

He made 41 of his 50 appearances for Derby in his first season at Pride Park in 2023-24, helping them win promotion back to the Championship after two seasons in the third tier.

Lincoln will be the ninth club that Bradley has featured for in a 15-year professional career that started with Hull City and has also included stints at Luton Town, Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle.

Bradley will be reunited with former Luton and Rams team-mate James Collins, the striker who spearhead Derby's promotion from League One 12 months ago, as well as assistant coach Chris Cohen, who he previously worked with at the Hatters.

He says both played a part in convincing him to make the move.

"It was straightforward decision after speaking to people I already know at the club," Bradley told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"A couple of quick conversations with James Collins, Chris Cohen and a the manager as well, and I was happy and in for a medical.

"When I do follow James about, it only brings success. It did at Luton and did at Derby so hopefully we can do the same here.

"I'm just looking forward to getting started now."

Bradley is the first summer addition made by Lincoln, with his arrival coming a day after 17-year-old winger Zane Okoro signed his first professional deal with the club.

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[themaclad]

Lincoln City have signed defender Ryley Towler on a permanent deal from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old centre-back made 45 appearances during his time at Fratton Park and scored four goals.

Towler was part of the Portsmouth squad that won the League One title in the 2023-24 season and last season made 14 appearances across all competitions.

He came through the Bristol City academy and previously spent time on loan at AFC Wimbledon and Grimsby Town.

"There is a really good vibe about the club," Towler said upon signing., external

"As soon as I heard of the interest I knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of, I can't wait to get started.

"I can't wait to play in the Lincoln City shirt, I've played at the stadium before and they are always really loud, I'm buzzing."

[themaclad]

Lincoln City midfielder Tom Bayliss has signed a new three-year deal with the League One club.

The 26-year-old had a year remaining on his existing contract, but has renewed terms to stay with the Imps until the summer of 2028.

Bayliss, who started his career with Coventry City, scored three goals and provided four assists in 39 appearances for Lincoln last season after joining as a free agent following his release by Shrewsbury Town.

Imps boss Michael Skubala says the club have a midfielder "in his prime".

"Tom has great quality and is a huge part of what we are trying to achieve," Skubala told the club website., external

"We still believe there is more to come from Tom, and we are delighted that he has committed potentially his best years of his career to Lincoln City."