Grimsby Town have kickstarted their summer window with the signing of Justin Amaluzor, who has signed a two-year contract following his departure from Altrincham, as confirmed via the club’s official website.
This move comes after Altrincham’s recent retained list declared that the forward would be departing the club upon the expiration of his contract, having accepted an offer from an “unnamed EFL club”.
Now, it appears Amaluzor will embark on his EFL journey with the Mariners, who will be looking to go one better next season after narrowly missing out on the League Two play-off spots on the final day.
Who is Justin Amaluzor?
Amaluzor has played the bulk of his career in the National League, having represented Altrincham, Barnet, and Aldershot Town to name a few.
Pacey, direct and unpredictable, the winger has often provided a sizable goal return over the years, scoring 12 goals in 65 league appearances for the Manchester club.
A standout season for the player was in the 2023-24 campaign, where the forward was an integral part of Altrincham’s fourth-placed finish in the National League.
On the player’s departure, manager Phil Parkinson stated:
“Since the moment he came in the building, Justin has been a consummate professional,
“He’s bought into everything we’ve done here, and it’s pleasing to have identified a player with growth still in him who’s now getting his dream move to the EFL.”
What could Justin Amaluzor bring to Grimsby Town?
While the forward’s goal tally was modest last season, Amaluzor has plenty of qualities that were absent in David Artell’s squad last time out.
Already possessing Charles Vernam, Darragh Burns, and Jason Svanþórsson in the wide positions, the 28-year-old offers an outlet of pace that was missing in the squad last time out.
Additionally, the former-Barnet man has played circa 40 matches in his last three seasons, which will be especially welcome at Blundell Park.
This availability will add a different option to the Mariners’ attack, as Artell is likely to revert to his preferred 4-3-3 formation next season after injuries forced his hand into playing in a 3-5-2 formation for large parts of last season.
His former manager Parkinson had pointed out the forward’s capacity for growth, and there are few better managers in the EFL for player development.
Artell’s time with the Mariners has been attributed to the growth of players, with the likes of Kieran Green, Evan Khouri, and George McEachran making vast strides under the former Crewe Alexandra coach.
On the signing, Artell said:
“Justin comes off the back of an excellent season at Altrincham and we feel he has a really high ceiling to continue his growth.
He’s young, hungry and adds something completely different to the current squad. We are all looking forward to working with him.”
Amaluzor’s arrival brings an element of diversity in squad options, allowing for more freedom in forward positions as well as a different dimension to the attack in terms of pace.
While he is approaching the peak years of his career, there is still capacity for growth, which the Grimsby Town coach has an excellent track record with.