This is not a drill; Lincoln City have signed a midfield player, adding former Liverpool trainee Matty Virtue to our ranks.
The midfielder arrives on a season-long loan from Blackpool, a club with which he has started Championship games this season.
A product of Liverpool’s academy, Virtue scored 12 goals in over 50 appearances for the Reds’ Under 21 side in the Premier League 2. He had a loan spell with Notts County in 2018, where he made his professional debut at the LNER Stadium in our 2-2 draw, Lee Frecklington’s first game back at the club. He went on to help them to promotion before returning to Anfield.
After signing a permanent contract at Blackpool in January 2019, Virtue has made 70 appearances for the Tangerines and was part of the squad that won promotion to the Championship in 2021, with our current number two Mike Garrity as assistant.
“I am really pleased and excited to have signed,” said the 25-year-old. “I recently had a Zoom call with Jez [George], Mark [Kennedy] and Mike [Garrity], and straight away my mind was made up. I now cannot wait to get going. The messages were so consistent from everyone at the club, and they are massive about player development. I want to be part of the journey which the team is going on and I want to have an impact in that.
“I am an energetic box-to-box midfielder. I like to get up and down the pitch and chip in with a few goals. The fans will definitely see a lot of effort and endeavour from me.”