Lincoln City returned to the EFL in 2017 after six seasons in non-league, and since then, our transfer business has gone from free agent pickups to seven-figure deals.
We’ve had some huge successes. Jack Moylan, Lasse Sorensen, Lukas Jensen and Tayo Edun are just a handful whom we turned a profit on, all also impacting the first team during their time here.
It’s important to look at what we do right and applaud, but not every deal works. Not every signing comes in and does well. That’s why I wanted to put together this list, which covers the permanent signings made since that promotion which have not succeeded.
This is not simply a ranking of the worst players to represent the Imps during that period. It considers the size of the investment, the expectations surrounding each arrival, the contribution they made and the return Lincoln City eventually received, whether through performances, longevity or resale value. Loan players have not been included, regardless of how successful or disappointing their time at Lincoln City might have been.
There is no hard and fast algorithm behind the order, and it is not based purely on appearances, goals or transfer fees. It is very much my perception of which permanent deals delivered the least against what City appeared to expect when they were completed.
10: Tyler Walker
Lincoln City league record: 35 appearances, 14 goals
Tyler Walker’s Lincoln City record of 35 league appearances and 14 goals looks superb, so his inclusion requires some explanation. This is a ranking of permanent transfers, and almost all Walker’s good work for City came while he was on loan from Nottingham Forest. When he returned permanently in 2023, there was an awareness inside the club that the decision could go badly either way. If City passed on him and he scored 30 goals elsewhere, it would look like a mistake. If they signed him and his injury problems continued, the same would be true. Unfortunately, the latter scenario unfolded.
Walker suffered a hamstring injury early in his permanent spell and never properly recovered. He briefly returned at the end of the 2023/24 season against Portsmouth, only to encounter further problems during the following summer. There was one more league appearance against Morecambe, but he never scored after coming back permanently and eventually moved on to Barrow. It was a signing that made sense at the time because everyone knew what a fit Walker could offer, but City never saw that version of him after committing to a two-year contract.
Comments Welcome!