Lincoln City have confirmed the signing of former Gillingham midfielder Dom Jeffries after he turned down the chance to stay at Priestfield Stadium.
The 22-year-old started his career in the Newport County youth ranks, before spending time in non-league with Salisbury. He then got picked up by Brentford B, whose record for signings speaks for itself. After only a year at the London club, he headed to the Kent outfit where he spent the last two seasons. Those campaigns saw the youngster play over 70 matches, and earn the club’s Young Player of The Season award on his first try.
Earlier in the summer we signed a 32-year-old full-back and many fans labelled that as a surprise, as it was a move that didn’t fit the typical recruitment strategy. That is not the case for this deal. We have signed the Welshman on a two-year deal, with an option for a further two years, so he could be playing in red and white until he’s 26 on this contract alone.
That is therefore the sort of signing we’re becoming used to. Jeffries is also used to playing a wide range of positions in the midfield so could be the ideal young versatile option for the squad.
“It feels great to be here and I’m glad everything is done,” he told the club media. “Since I’ve been here everyone has been so welcoming, it already feels like home and I am sure the coaching team here can help develop my game to the next level. I can’t wait to get going.”
Michael Skubala added, “Dom will add real strength in depth for us in midfield and is different to the other midfield players we have recruited this summer. He can run all day but our recruitment department have also identified through data and live scouting, the intensity of his work, which is so important to how we want to play.
“He is another young player with the character and mentality we want, has the physical and technical attributes we were looking to add to the group and showed a huge desire to sign for us to trust the Club with the next stage of his development.”
This signing takes our number of first-team midfield options to seven, with Ethan Erhahon, Ethan Hamilton, Conor McGrandles, Tom Bayliss, JJ McKiernan, Oisin Gallagher and now Jeffries all at the club, with Jack Moylan also an option in those positions if needed. With those numbers, could a change in formation be coming or is this just the squad depth we craved at times last year?
Who knows, all we know is, three weeks today and we’ll be counting down the hours until the season starts. Until then, why don’t you head straight over to the YouTube channel to catch Gary and Chris’ live reaction to this signing.