Coventry City transfer news and gossip as plans come to fruition with two new faces already signed

Coventry City will report for pre-season training later this summer with at least two new faces in tow as a result of past and present deals. The Sky Blues did not hang around as they began to find ways to improve their squad ahead of next season’s Championship campaign.

City have already cut themselves from the fringes of their group, although most are under contract, only arriving last summer. Liam Kelly, Simon Moore, Dermi Lusala and Bradley Stretton left, while Luis Binks returned to parent club Bologna at the end of his loan spell. Callum O’Hare has been offered a contract upon the expiry of his existing deal, which ends at the end of next month.

On Friday, the club confirmed – very cleverly initially via social media – that they had secured the signing of Raphael Rodrigues on a four-year deal from Australia’s Macarthur. The winger is excited about the prospect of what the new season – his first in English football – has in store for him.

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“Speaking to the manager and everyone at the club, they’ve shown me a lot of confidence that they believe I can come here and make an impact,” he said. “I mean, it’s going to be tough, but I think, ‘I’m going to help myself adjust as best I can and then help myself with the next step in my career.’

“I like to be creative and express myself and hopefully I can score a lot of goals and create a lot of assists and entertain people. It’s buzzing, I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started. (The manager) explained to me how they do things here, how they want to play and I was really excited to get on board.”

Rodrigues joins just one other new signing in Ephron Mason-Clark, who City completed a deal for in January before allowing him to stay at Peterborough United for the second half of the season. Mason-Clark helped Posh win the EFL Trophy at Wembley and also reach the League One play-offs, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Oxford United.

“I’ve seen how well they’ve done throughout the season and especially that FA Cup run they’ve had,” he said of Coventry’s recent campaign. “I was fully focused on my time at Peterborough, but I had a bit of an eye on what For me, it was a very easy decision, it was something I wanted to be a part of.

“Seeing how the team plays is something I wanted to join and take my game to the next level. Each step has shaped me into the person I am today and I hope this next journey can continue that as well. I’m just getting ready. I, mentally and physically, for a tough league, I can’t wait to impress and work hard for the team and not just for the fans, but for my teammates and staff.

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