Leyton Orient has announced the signing of goalkeeper Zach Hemming on a season-long loan from Championship side Middlesbrough.
The 24-year-old, was on loan at Scottish Premier League side St Mirren last season, helping them to an impressive fifth-placed finish, earning them European football for the 24/25 season. Zach follows in the footsteps of Sol Brynn who was on loan at the East London outfit last season also from Middlesbrough.
This is the third season-long loan deal that The O’s made this summer after Sonny Perkins and Charlie Kelman joined earlier in the window. This takes the total to six incomings in the window for Orient, after the permanent acquisitions of Sean Clare, Lewis Warrington, and Diallang Jaiyesimi.
Speaking with the club’s media team Zach had this to say.
“I’m really pleased to sign for the club and can’t wait to start contributing to the team as much as I can.
“I really enjoyed my time in Scotland and now I want to come down here and show what I can do. I know Sol Brynn from our time together at Middlesbrough and he had so many good things to say about the place.
“You can tell there is a really good group of lads at the club. I spoke to Sol about Roycey, too, and he said how good of a coach he is. I’m really excited to get going now.”
How did Zach perform at St Mirren last season?
Last season in the Scottish Premiership, Zach played in 38 matches (46 in all competitions) keeping ten clean sheets with a save percentage of 66.7% save percentage with 104 saves. The 52 goals were conceded from an xGOT (Expected Goal on Target of 54.8) ranking him in the 77% percentile for goalkeepers in the league.
Zach also was in the 90% percentile with 51 high claims, taking pressure off his defenders from corners and crosses into the box.
Using the loan market effectively
For some clubs like Leyton Orient, the loan market is really important to get correct. While it is unlikely they will be able to pay the fees that other clubs can pay, if the market is used correctly you can get players who can be big additions to the squad and complement the types of players you already have, which The O’s have showcased over the past couple of seasons with Idris El Mizouni.
Before this signing, The O’s had one senior goalkeeper who had played in the EFL which was Sam Howes, along with two academy graduates Noah Phillips and Rhys Byrne so adding a goalkeeper who had experience was vital.
Signing goalkeepers is always tricky, The O’s need a goalkeeper who is comfortable using his feet as well as acting as a sweeper which streamlines the market at this level, so sometimes a loan option from a higher-tiered club is best. This also allows clubs to build relationships, which in this case may have been beneficial with another Middlesbrough shot-stopper in Sol Brynn being on loan in East London last season.