Oldham Athletic have confirmed the signing of 29-year-old defender, Manny Monthe on a two-year contract on a free transfer from League One side Northampton Town.
Monthe is the club’s third signing of the summer, as Micky Mellon bolsters his squad ahead of the 2024/2025 National League campaign.
Monthe’s career so far
The defender began his career in the youth ranks at Queens Park Rangers and was given a professional contract for the 2013/2014 season. He was loaned out to Southport where he only made seven appearances, upon returning to QPR he was released.
He toured non-league with clubs such as Whitehawk, Tonbridge Angels, Heybridge Swifts, Hayes and Yeading United, and Havant and Waterlooville.
In 2016, Monthe signed for Bath City where he impressed during his five months with the club, scoring four goals in 19 games. He earned a move to Forest Green Rovers in November 2016 and was a part of the side that gained promotion to League Two via the play-offs.
He began the 2017/2018 season with Forest Green, before joining Tranmere Rovers on loan in February. The defender had gained his second promotion from the National League with Tranmere and the move was made permanent ahead of the 2018/2019 League Two campaign.
Monthe was once again a promotion winner in the 2018/2019 campaign, achieving promotion with Tranmere to League One. The defender stayed with Tranmere following relegation in the 2019/2020 season up until 2021 when he departed the club for Walsall after 143 appearances for the club.
Walsall then snapped up the services of Monthe where he spent two seasons making a total of 93 appearances for the club. He then went on to join League One side Northampton Town ahead of the 23/24 campaign where he made 34 appearances in all competitions.
What will Monthe bring to Oldham?
The 29-year-old defender is somewhat of a promotion specialist, having achieved promotion out of the National League twice and out of League Two before. Monthe will know what it takes to achieve promotion from the level and can share his experiences with the team to give them the best possible chance of promotion this season.
Monthe is also an experienced defender, having made 318 career appearances, 171 of which have come at League Two level and 65 at League One. Monthe has played at a much higher level than the National League and should be one of the more well-equipped players to help Oldham return to the EFL.
The centre-back brings a physical presence to the back line, standing at 6’4ft, the defender won 100 aerial duels in the 2022/2023 season and a further 68 in fewer games in the 2023/2024 season.