Town have confirmed the signing of defender Chris Goteni from French side Saint-Apollinaire on a deal to the end of the season with an option for a further year. TWTD was first to reveal that the 19-year-old was set to join the Blues earlier in the month.

Manager Mick McCarthy later confirmed that the centre-half was signing for Town having impressed while on trial. The Frenchman has been waiting for international clearance before formally becoming a Town player.

“He’s joining us, just to the end of the season with an option,” McCarthy said after the 1-0 victory over Leeds.

“We thought it was worth having a look. He came and trained with us and he trained with the first team and did all right.

“He played in a practice match the other day and was awful but I’d seen enough in the training. I don’t think he’d been training properly and he’d travelled, so he’s joining us.”

Goteni joined Saint-Apollinaire from ASPTT Dijon in the summer, having previously been with Ligue 1 side Dijon FCO's youth set-up.

Saint-Apollinaire play in the fifth tier in France but McCarthy said players have previously been recruited from similar levels and gone on to great success.

“I think your man that went to Bristol City [Jonathan Kodjia] was playing fairly low level and they sold him for £14 million!”

Goteni could make his first appearance in a Town shirt when the U23s face West Brom in the Premier League Cup at St George's Park on Thursday evening (KO 7pm).

Photo: ITFC

yungblue added 17:53 - Jan 24 Certainly won't be slaying anyone until I've seen them for myself. And optimistically, there are a lot of ‘hidden gems' out there. And more specifically in France, Pogba, Kodak, Kante, Maurer. So won't be judging until seen for myself.
9

jas0999 added 18:00 - Jan 24 MM also confirmed on Radio Suffolk he's one for the development squad and wouldn't be in the first team. Just taking a look to see if he's worth a contract for next season. Seems unlikely we will see him play.
9

Northstandveteran added 18:02 - Jan 24 Gottsey......?
5

unknown100 added 18:03 - Jan 24 Played in a practice match and was awful, what a thing to say by your new manager... good luck 😂
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Matt_Portman added 18:08 - Jan 24 Logically this is to cover a place in the u23 squad and allow Smith and woolfenden to stay out on loan. If he does well and earns a contract here or elsewhere next season then fair play to him. This is nothing to do with the first team squad, or covering the loss of berra, taylor and Smith permanently and webster injured since the summer. Happy with the spurs boy but we lack one more CB in my opinion and are particularly short of one commanding in the air against a big target man ( also be nice to have our own threat from set pieces).

5

BlueMachines added 18:08 - Jan 24 Goteni-ey
7

Northstandveteran added 18:11 - Jan 24 He was awful 😂😂😂😂😂 He'll fit right in then. Have you considered a new career as a salesman this summer Mick? Don't work on a commission though! Priceless 😂
7

DublinBlue84 added 18:12 - Jan 24 Kodjia was playing for a second tier team that had just been promoted to the first tier in France when he was sold in the summer. Trying to hoodwink the fans that a fifth tier player is somehow comparable with a player who was in a promoted team from the second tier seems to be an attempt to take advantage of the fact most fans don't know about French football. Less spin more honesty please.

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Northstandveteran added 18:16 - Jan 24 F.f.s bluemachines, not laughed so much on this site. 😂😂😂
3

iaintaylorx added 18:22 - Jan 24 This because we haven't Goteni money?
17

iaintaylorx added 18:22 - Jan 24 I'll grab my coat, thanks!
2

dangerous30 added 18:27 - Jan 24 Good luck
1

Popeye added 18:32 - Jan 24 Mings was playing at a low league level when MM signed him for £10k and sold him for £15 million and to be fair to MM that was one of the best ever signings made by any manager in this league. Its not where you start you're career its where you end up that matters. This lad could be the next Mings but equally he could be the next Ulrich Le Pen, that's the gamble!
6

runaround added 18:45 - Jan 24 I wonder if he's Goteni hope?
3

shortmarine1969 added 18:48 - Jan 24 Try 8 Mil Popeye..quite a bit shy of 15.!
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Rensham added 18:53 - Jan 24 pretend signing to keep the badge kissers happy
0

Northstandveteran added 18:59 - Jan 24 Has he Goten'is squad number yet?
1

hoppy added 19:09 - Jan 24 Have we Goteni more coming in, or is that it, with no Moore now?
5

Surco72 added 19:18 - Jan 24 How many of these players has MM signed now and nothing happens 20 ? Would rather have our own youngsters and develop them
6

hollywoodginge added 19:23 - Jan 24 Incidentally Steven Taylor has been ever present for posh this season. If only we could have foretold such an injury crisis, he would have been an asset this season.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 19:24 - Jan 24 Hes probably on £120 plus 2 sugarbeats per week. Its a no risk punt. Good luck to him
4

TimmyH added 19:41 - Jan 24 Can't comment on him as I don't know anything about him (and haven't googled him either) other than what I've read on here, worth a punt as I think we've bought him on a free - but the feeling I get is this could be another exercise on buying somebody for nothing and selling on for a big profit and keeping Mr Evans happy (hence the reference to Jonathan Kodjia at Bristol City). All the best Chris whilst here.

2

TimmyH added 19:43 - Jan 24 @Popeye we sold Mings on for £8M not sure where you got £15M from?
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Northstandveteran added 19:45 - Jan 24 He must have Gotenis sums wrong
3

dirtydingusmagee added 20:00 - Jan 24 ,he played but was awful but he'd travelled so he can stay, Mick at his best .Good luck to him ,he will need it .
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