First Team
EVERY WORD | JACK WALTON LOOKS AHEAD TO IBROX TEST
21st November 2024
Dundee United are delighted to announce the signing of Norwich City defender Emmanuel Adegboyega on a season-long loan deal, subject to both SFA and international clearance.
Reared in County Louth, Adegboyega began his youth career on home soil with Drogheda United. A brief stint with his hometown club, Dundalk, punctuated his journey into the Drogs’ first-team set-up, and he made his senior debut in a Leinster Senior Cup joust with Athlone Town.
Two weeks later, a clash with 21-time Irish Champions Shamrock Rovers brought his top-flight bow, and subsequently became in a mainstay in Kevin Doherty’s line-up for the majority of the 2023 campaign, boasting a 75% defensive duel success rate.
The Irishman’s flourishing displays for Drogheda brought multiple suitors from the top two divisions of the English pyramid, and Adegboyega ultimately opted to join Norwich City last August.
Initially skippering the Canaries’ U21 side throughout the opening months of the Premier League 2 season, Adegboyega embarked on his first loan spell upon the arrival of the January transfer window, heading for EFL League Two side Walsall to aid their efforts to reach the promotion play-offs.
The towering stopper's introduction to the side coincided with a five-game winning streak in the West Midlands, and he became the first Saddlers star to scoop the EFL Young Player of the Month Award since Rico Henry nearly nine years prior, having netted on three occasions and kept two clean sheets during February. His Bescot Stadium adventure concluded with almost 1,100 senior minutes attained.
Adegboyega will become the 26th Irish player to represent Dundee United, and is in line to make his Terrors debut on Matchday Two of the William Hill Premiership as we travel to Ross County.
The Perfect Set Of Physical Attributes
Securing the signature of his fellow countryman, United Manager Jim Goodwin commented: "Emmanuel has the perfect set of raw physical attributes to be a commanding centre-half in the Scottish Premiership - he rarely loses a battle with his opponent and is incredibly mobile for his height.
"This season, it is imperative for our defenders to be comfortable stepping into play with the ball at their feet to look for progressive passing options, and this is another one of the qualities that piqued our interest in him."
Goodwin concluded: "He has proven he can thrive in the senior game with his encouraging loan spell at Walsall last year, and we hope he can replicate his success during his spell at Tannadice."
IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH CONVINCING
The 20-year-old added: "I'm just happy to get the deal over the line - Dundee United are a massive club so I jumped at the opportunity as soon as it arose. The Manager outlined our ambitions and how I'm going to help us achieve them, but it didn't take much convincing.
"At Walsall, I played on the right side of the back three, and I feel I'll be the perfect fit for the system in place here. I like stepping in and showing composure - I'm confident and that's exactly what the Gaffer is looking for.
"I want us to play an attractive style of football and push up the table. I'm looking forward to getting involved straight away, I just want to hit the ground running."
