With pre-season looming, National League clubs have been busy in the transfer market making moves to bolster their squad for the coming season, but which have been the best so far?
Dean Brennan’s Barnet as well as York City have had a busy start to the window, landing almost an entire match-day squad between them, whilst Gateshead are yet to publish their retained list let alone sign a player.
In this article, I will look at ten significant transfers in the National League. To highlight talent spread across the division, each team will be limited to one transfer in this piece.
Joe Kizzi – Barnet
Starting off the list with an experienced defensive head, Joe Kizzi has jumped from Sutton to Barnet. The centre-back, who can also play right-back has been an ever-present at Sutton in the EFL for several years now but has made the jump to Dean Brennan’s side.
Kizzi is one of seven signings made by Barnet this summer, but he stood out to me as a player who will add leadership and promotion experience, which are two crucial factors in terms of competing in this division.
The Bees paid a fee to bring him in on a two-year deal but everything points to this deal being a really smart bit of business.
Oscar Rutherford – Dagenham & Redbridge
Rutherford is a player who I thought would end up making the move to the EFL following his departure from Eastleigh. Nonetheless, it was Dagenham who won the race for his signature.
The versatile wide man, who can play anywhere up the right has bags of potential at only 20 years old but still has shown maturity beyond his years during the last two seasons with The Spitfires.
Last season he managed to make 36 appearances, assisting twice within those matches. An exciting signing to start what may be an exciting season down at Dagenham.
Luis Fernandez – Eastleigh
Eastleigh’s only signing of the window so far, but one that has the potential to be a top deal. Fernandez joins The Spitfires after an impressive season at Hampton & Richmond, where they just missed out on the playoffs.
Fernandez offers defensive versatility to Eastleigh’s defence, being capable of not only playing at centre-back but also at right-back. He managed to make 45 appearances last season with the Beavers, showing off his reliability.
Whilst still being only 22, Fernandez has a lot of room to further develop his game and be a great asset to Eastleigh.
Jim Kellermann – Ebbsfleet
Kellermann has mande the jump to Ebbsfleet after being let go by Woking this summer. He had a season which was riddled with unfortunate injuries, but no doubt is he a top player at National League level.
An engine of a midfielder who loves to carry the ball forward, Kellermann has made 67 appearances for Woking over the last two seasons, assisting five times and scoring six during that spell.
At only 29, Kellermann still has a lot in the tank to offer to Ebbsfleet and is a great start to the transfer window for Danny Searle’s men.
Liam Sercombe – Forest Green
One of the more shocking deals of the window, Sercombe has made the jump to Forest Green from local rivals Cheltenham Town. He showed out frequently in League One last season, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 11 goals in 49 appearances, so the drop to the National League is somewhat of a shock!
Sercomebe is now 34 years old though, and the midfielder may be coming to the back end of his career, but the quality he has is still enough to be competing at the highest standard in this division, making him a signing of serious intent from Forest Green, who are looking to bounce straight back to the EFL.
Sam Bowen – Solihull Moors
Despite an impressive spell on loan at Wealdstone last season, Bowen was released by Newport this summer, but Solihull have taken no time at all to snap up the 23-year-old central midfielder.
Last season Bowen managed to make 40 appearances for The Stones, where he showed his ability to score from midfield, netting seven times on top of three assists. He offers great work rate whilst playing in a technical Wealdstone side which has showcased his passing range as well.
This is a signing that could go majorly under the radar this season as a great bit of business.
Siju Odelusi – Sutton
Odelusi has had a great season with Aveley so it comes as no surprise to see a National League side sign him, and this is one Sutton fans should certainly be excited for.
The 25-year-old midfielder scored 17 times in 52 appearances last season, earning himself a spot in the National League South team of the season. He also played a significant role in Aveley making the playoffs in their first season in the National League South since being promoted. A great midfielder with bags of potential.
Dale Gorman – Woking
Barnet’s captain has made the jump to Surrey, and what a signing this could be. The 27-year-old joins with experience of promotion and can offer great leadership qualities to Michael Doyle’s new look Woking side.
Over the past two seasons, the midfielder has shown his reliability, making 86 appearances for The Bees over two season, which have also included 18 goal contributions. a great passer of the ball with a bit of bite about him also, Gorman is a top addition and would be for almost any National League side.
Harvey Greenslade – Yeovil
Greenslade has signed a two-year deal with The Glovers, opting to stick locally to Bristol. The young striker has spent most of this season out on loan in non-league, but has built a reputation up to be quite the talent.
A mobile striker who looks to get in behind defences, Greenslade’s best spell this season came in the National League with Oxford City, where he managed to score three times in 16 games for the struggling side.
He is only 20, so will have lots of room to develop his game still and could be a real coup for Yeovil.
Ashley Nathaniel-George – York
Obviously the standout transfer at York this summer has been Ollie Pearce, but the arrival of Nathaniel-George from fellow National League side Maidenhead has gone majorly under the radar.
The tricky winger has been a key player for The Magpies over the last two seasons, racking up 73 appearances, which includes 10 goals and 9 assists.
He is a player who likes to attack full-backs with pace and beat his man and I feel could be a really impressive signing for Adam Hinshelwood’s York side.