Lincoln City have added much-needed depth by securing a season-long loan deal for versatile defender Saxon Earley from Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle, who started two games for the Championship club last season, playing the full ninety minutes in both as the team kept clean sheets in a draw with Watford and a Carabao Cup win over Leyton Orient.
The 21-year-old becomes the 13th new signing of the summer transfer window and may help to improve a defence that has shipped seven goals in four matches in all competitions to open the new campaign.
Lincoln City Require Backup For First-Choice Defensive Trio
Captain Paudie O’Connor is part of an impressive starting back three for Lincoln City manager Michael Skubala. The UEFA Strategic Advisor has persisted with three central defenders since taking over in November 2023 and has Adam Jackson and Sean Roughan as first-choice pairing alongside the club captain.
The trio have impressed with O’Connor scoring twice and providing two assists, Jackson also scoring twice and 21-year-old Roughan providing a goal alongside two assists. Lewis Montsma provides another option alongside summer signing Tom Hamer, who has made two substitute appearances against Barnsley and Mansfield Town.
However, there is a significant drop-off if any of the main trio are absent for a prolonged period and the hope will be that Saxon Earley can stay clear of his persistent ankle injury troubles to replicate the form that he displayed on loan at Stevenage in their promotion-winning 2022/23 League Two campaign.
The Imps conceded just 40 goals in 2023/24, the best record of any side across the EFL’s three divisions but they have lost star goalkeeper Lukas Jensen, who has moved to Championship side Millwall. He has been replaced by 22-year-old George Wickens, a former England under-18 international who has arrived from Premier League side Fulham’s development squad.
Since returning to the Football League ahead of the 2017/18, Lincoln City have built their success on solidity in defence. They have conceded on average just 48 goals across their seven campaigns since, which is heavily inflated by the 17th-place finish in the 2021/22 League One season where the club conceded 63 goals.
Saxon Earley Joins Lincoln City on Loan
The left-sided defender started 13 games for Stevenage and totalled 21 appearances in League Two in 2022/23, providing two assists. He ranked second for successful tackles with 2.3 per game across the squad for the entire campaign but his progress has been stalled by persistent injuries which Director of Football Jez George referred to when talking to the club’s official website upon confirmation of the season-long loan deal:
“We’ve had an interest in Saxon for two years, we watched him extensively while he was on loan at Stevenage and monitored him since joining Plymouth.
“Saxon’s had a really tough year with two ankle injuries but he has successfully rehabbed from surgery and has completed a full pre-season, so he joins us ready to play.
“We have been looking for a versatile left-footed defender all summer who can add depth and competition for the squad in a couple of positions, and Saxon fits the bill perfectly. Just as importantly was Saxon’s desire to join us.”
The club notes that this deal concludes their summer activity regarding incomings this transfer window which has seen several key players depart with many additions brought in as Lincoln City try to improve upon their seventh-place finish in the 2023/24 campaign, where they missed out on a place in the play-offs by just two points.
The Imps travel to Stevenage this weekend hoping to make it two wins from two on the road after an opening day 3-2 win at Burton Albion. Stevenage remained unbeaten against Lincoln City last season, securing a scoreless draw away from home after a 1-0 win at the Lamex Stadium in November thanks to a second-half goal from Jamie Reid.