Lincoln City captain Tendayi Darikwa has signed a new contract until June 2028 following successful surgery on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
City’s captain suffered the injury during our first home game of the season against Portsmouth, and scans in the days that followed confirmed those initial fears.
Darikwa has now undergone surgery and will begin an extensive rehabilitation programme with the club’s medical and performance staff as he works towards a return to action.
As is the case with these injuries, he won’t feature again this season. However, his impact at the club goes beyond what he brings on the pitch, and the defender remains an important influence on the squad at the EPC.
Speaking about the decision, Sporting director Jez George was full of praise for Darikwa and the club.
“This is what Lincoln City is all about. Tendayi’s commitment and role in our achievements over the past two years speak for themselves, so it is clear to us that we cannot allow him to be out of contract before he is ready to return to team training next pre-season.
“This contract allows Tendayi to focus on his recovery and take the time required to get back playing without the stress of uncertainty next summer. No one knows where the club will be next season, or how the squad will have evolved, and what will be right for Tendayi moving forward, but this isn’t about Tendayi the footballer, it is about Tendayi the person, the husband, the dad.
“Tendayi remains the club captain and will still impact our results through his leadership off the pitch.”
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This decision, not for the first time, demonstrates that the Imps commitment to players goes beyond their impact on the field. James Collins received the same backing in January, after his own ACL injury against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Trophy last season. Our experienced forward has since joined Doncaster Rovers for the first half of the campaign, and will hopefully be available for selection shortly.
Like with Collins, Darikwa has been rewarded for his commitment to the club with an extended deal, despite the fact he won’t feature for the club for a considerable period. Signed from Cypriot outfit Apollon Limassol in the summer of 2024, the 34-year-old brought a wealth of experience with him to Sincil Bank. He was a former League One title winner with Wigan Athletic, while also featuring for Burnley, where he played against the Imps in our famous FA Cup upset at Turf Moor in 2017.
Despite his age, Tendayi has proved to be a valuable asset to Lincoln. Such was his impact that he signed a new deal with the club six months after signing, following a goal on his City debut at Burton Albion. After winning three accolades at the end of his debut campaign, the Zimbabwe international was made City captain ahead of the 25/26 season.
His place in Imps history was confirmed, leading us to our historic title win alongside being named in the EFL League One Team of the Season. Darikwa played at Derby County in the League Cup and Middlesbrough in the Championship before that devastating injury against Portsmouth. It still pains me that he won’t get his full-circle moment against Burnley later this year, and it remains to be seen if our skipper will get to add to his 104 appearances in red and white.
I have said this before, but it’s these moments that allow us to sign experienced players of a higher calibre. When players are at the end of their careers and aren’t looking for one final payday, knowing a club will back them in the case of serious injuries can be a huge incentive to sign.
In a market where we can’t compete with other Championship clubs financially, finding that extra margin is significant.
The Stacey West wishes Darikwa all the best in his recovery from injury.
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