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

miltonsnephew added 20:58 - Jan 24 Has he Goteni good mates? Like a good playmaker in the middle of the park??
2

BrettenhamBlue added 23:25 - Jan 24 Best of luck to him. Thought we'd already signed him up to be honest.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 01:03 - Jan 25 Good to see us scout someone unexpected every now and then. MM's comments about him being awful in one match means he must have seen something to be pleased about in training. It's another example of MM just being honest and people who don't like him using it as a stick to beat him. Funny because I don't think he gives a flying one when they do!
3

tractorboybig added 07:10 - Jan 25 wow, chuck our on youngsters out on loan and sign this???? WE ARE LOST.
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Surco72 added 07:31 - Jan 25 He was awful in a match but did loads of proper bloke running and tackling in training so MM loves him !!
4

Rensham added 07:48 - Jan 25 Why is Big Mick signing players he's leaving in 100 days. would rather have kept tommy smith
3

oldegold added 08:38 - Jan 25 A club that is drifting..
3

Skip73 added 08:49 - Jan 25 Whats wrong with taking a punt on this signing? Mick was obviously trying to wind some of the more intellectually challenged people on here up when he said the boy was awful. He is our player. Cost nothing and our youngsters can get vital experience out on loan before coming back here stronger players. People on here keep moaning about not scouting abroad, but when we sign somebody from a foreign club they still moan. Personally I hope he does well. COYB!

3

Rensham added 09:03 - Jan 25 its very easy to sign someone. there are 40+ mick signings that say he hasn't got a clue
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Taricco_Fan added 12:44 - Jan 25 Did he pass the fit and proper bloke test?
2

Wacko added 13:47 - Jan 25 Doesn't anyone haveni other jokes about this guy's name?
2

Edmundo added 15:51 - Jan 25 Bigger picture stuff here: he may be a star but we can help him bed into English football with low risk contract. Pity Steven Taylor didn't get the nod: he's stayed fit for Posh (wonder what they do with him we don't with our injury prone players?)
1

Seasider added 18:33 - Jan 25 Must be some SUN headline writers on here today lol
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Rensham added 11:44 - Jan 26 Many of our younger players have invested 2-3 years at ITFC. Turned out for the club for several seasons. Their reward is loan or piss off. At the same time some guy walks off the street for a 60min trial is signed up to take their places. No wonder our academy and u23's are not achieving anything.
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