Imps defender Elicha Ahui has joined Scottish Championship side Ayr United on a season-long loan deal, just minutes after we finished a podcast talking about where he might fit in this season. Obviously.
The 19-year-old made his debut for the Imps in October 2022, playing the full 90 minutes against Newcastle United U21 in the EFL Trophy, where he impressed. That led to a spell in Ireland with Drogheda United, where he made 21 appearances, again impressing.
Ahui, who came through the Imps shadow scholarship programme, was tipped by some to act as cover for the first team this season, but he will instead join Ayr United, who were (curiously) the Scottish side my Dad picked to follow as a kid. He told me once when I was young and it always stuck with me. I thought I’d imagined it until I told him the news on the phone earlier and he said ‘I used to support them’. What’s really interesting is my brother once picked Falkirk as his Scottish side, where Sam Long is now.
You don’t need to know that. it’s been a long day.
Anyway, City’s director of football Jez George said “This is a brilliant opportunity for Elicha to play at a really competitive level in a full-time environment for a club who finished second in their league last season. Elicha has earned this loan from his performances at Drogheda and we look forward to seeing him attack this next challenge in his development pathway.”
Ahui will take to the field at Somerset Park as a teammate of former Sunderland winger Aiden McGeady, who moved north of the border this summer.