Zane Okoro has signed a new long-term contract with Lincoln City before completing a season-long loan move to Tranmere Rovers.
The highly-rated forward has committed his future to the Imps until the summer of 2029, underlining the club’s belief in his potential. That’s not the only news: he’ll be hoping for regular EFL minutes with a League Two loan move as well. He will spend the 2026/27 season at Tranmere Rovers, who are looking to improve on their 21st-placed finish in the 2025/26 season, with Darrell Clarke at the helm.
19-year-old Okoro joined Lincoln’s academy from Brooke House College before beginning his scholarship and has continued to progress through the club’s youth system. He spent last season on loan with Coleraine, gaining valuable experience in senior football, and his move to the Wirral is viewed as the next stage of his development.
“I’m delighted to have signed a new contract,” Okoro said. “Having come through the academy, it means a lot to continue my journey with the club. It gives me confidence that the club believe in my potential, and I’m excited for what the future holds.
“The loan move to Tranmere Rovers is a great opportunity to continue my development and experience more senior football in the EFL. I’m looking forward to getting started, testing myself in a new environment and hopefully coming back as a better player.”
Okoro was rumoured to be coveted by Premier League sides last summer, but rather than disappear into the Under-21 setup, he stayed put for senior football. His spell at Coleraine started explosively, and while the goals and assists slowed, he was a part of their title challenge, getting plenty of senior action.
“Zane has done fantastically well to accelerate his development over the past 12 months so that he is wanted by a really experienced manager, at a really good League Two club, with the expectation of contributing for them as a starting player,” Sporting director Jez George added.
“That is credit to Zane and everyone at Coleraine, particularly their manager Ruaidhri Higgins. Zane has bags of potential and we have seen, even over the past three weeks of training with the first team, how he has benefitted from 12 months of men’s football. The new contract is a reward for Zane and testament to our belief in him to make the steps required to play in our first team, and this loan is the next one of those.”
Zane was seen most recently in the Imps’ pre-season matches, turning out against Boston United last Saturday, and getting minutes in the game in Spain against Leyton Orient.
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