Peterborough United are set to complete their first signing of the summer by signing full-back Josh Emmanuel following his release from League Two side Grimsby Town, according to Pete O’Rourke from Football Insider.
Emmanuel, who spent the second half of the 2022/23 season at Blundell Park after signing from Hull City on January Deadline Day, has reportedly undergone a medical at Posh after being let go by the Mariners upon the expiration of his contract in a search to play at a higher level.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE! 🚨 – Peterborough United have agreed a deal to sign Josh Emmanuel on a free transfer. ✅
– The 25-year-old, whose contract at Grimsby Town expires this month, underwent a medical with the Posh on Monday. 💪
— Football Insider (@footyinsider247) June 13, 2023
Who is Josh Emmanuel?
Coming through the ranks at West Ham United before leaving the club to progress further at Ipswich Town, Josh Emmanuel earnt his first professional deal whilst with the Tractor Boys in August 2015 and made his competitive debut for the club shortly after against Brentford.
Emmanuel went on to make a total of 29 appearances in all competitions whilst at Portman Road between 2015 and 2019, in a spell which saw the right-back head out on loan at the likes of Crawley Town, Rotherham United and Shrewsbury Town.
In early September 2019, the 25-year-old would go on to join Bolton Wanderers on a permanent deal after being released from his Ipswich Town contract hours earlier. During his one-year stay at Bolton, Emmanuel turned out 31 times for the club before being released at the end of the season following Bolton’s relegation to League Two.
Hull City would be the next club Emmanuel would sign for as he made a total of 38 appearances whilst with the Tigers, helping the club make an instant return to the Championship following relegation from the second division in the previous campaign.
Following a year out of the game due to medical issues, the 25-year-old would return to football after signing for Grimsby Town in January 2023 on a permanent deal until the end of the season after leaving Hull City. After making 18 appearances whilst with the Mariners and assisting on two occasions, it was confirmed that Emmanuel would leave the club at the end of his contract so he could find a club that plays in a higher division.
Ready to go again
With Peterborough set to sign Josh Emmanuel, the club are looking to add to their defensive ranks after the departure of Nathan Thompson who has since signed for Stevenage, but as well as that, Emmanuel brings that League One promotion-winning experience with him which Posh are desperate to taste after losing to Sheffield Wednesday in the playoff semi-finals in the last campaign.
As for Grimsby however, Michee Efete remains the Mariners’ only contracted right-back ahead of the new season after losing Emmanuel as well as releasing Jordan Cropper, with new signing Toby Mullarkey also able to play at right-back if called upon after signing from Rochdale.
Writer’s View
Writing this article as a Grimsby Town supporter that has seen Josh Emmanuel play for us in the second half of the season, I for one am gutted to see him leave, although it was to be expected as I feel he is too good for League Two and deserves to be playing higher. He signed for us to boost his fitness and to start playing regularly again after a year out of the game, which I feel he’s done enough to earn a move at a decent League One club.
I think Emmanuel signing for Peterborough is a good move. He is a full-back who is good with his feet as well as he’s good getting up and down the pitch. His physical presence is also there, with his strength playing a big part to his game, making him untouchable for the opposition at times. I feel Emmanuel will be a good fit for what Peterborough are trying to build ahead of the new campaign.
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