Dagenham & Redbridge forward Inih Effiong has announced his exit from the National League side following the expiry of his contract, via a post on his official Twitter account.
The 33-year-old was out of contract following the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign and was in talks with the club over a new contract but the club have appeared to have pulled the plug on a potential deal, forcing Effiong to become a free agent.
Posting a message on his official social media, Effiong stated…
‘My Time at @Dag_RedFC is up, Would like to Thank all of the Fans for the support they gave me in the time I was there enjoyed every moment and gutted that the club said they were going in a different direction and something couldn’t be sorted but that’s football and we move!!!’
How did Effiong fair last season?
Despite being limited to just 28 league appearances for Dagenham last season as a result of injuries, Effiong managed 16 goals proving to be a dangerous asset for Ben Strevens’ team.
Effiong had been with Dagenham since his permanent switch from fellow National League side Aldershot in February 2023 and has made just under 250 appearances in the English fifth tier to date.
Is this a significant blow for Dagenham?
Ben Strevens’ side have already been busy this summer, even despite the confirmed departure of Effiong. In total, Dagenham have already made six signings this summer with three of them being attack-minded players in the form of Reece Grego-Cox, Dion Pereira and Dylan Stephenson.
Losing a player who scored 16 goals last season is always likely to be considered as a ‘significant blow’ by supporters, especially with that player leaving for free. However, Effiong is 33 and Dagenham have opted to sign younger players ahead of next season which will decrease the experience but likely increase the quality within alternate areas of the attack.
What’s next for Effiong?
As previously mentioned, Effiong is 33-years-old and has only made nine appearances in the EFL throughout his career so far. Therefore, this summer is likely to be his last opportunity to secure EFL football on a competitive contract, which could narrow down the number of sides that could pursue a deal for him.
For example, newly-promoted League Two side Bromley are local to Dagenham and could provide Effiong with first-team football. However, there is also likely to be several ambitious sides within the National League that could try and sign Effiog in a bid to help the club reach the EFL themselves.