Barrow have announced the signing of defender Mazeed Ogungbo from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee, according to the club’s official website.
The 20-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Barrow after an eight year stay with the Gunners. He would spend the 2022/23 season on loan with fellow League Two club Crawley Town, racking up 27 appearances across all competitions. The versatile defender will now apply his trade for Barrow and will be looking to help the Bluebirds challenge in the top-half of the table.
Barrow finished ninth last season, which was their highest ever finish in the EFL, and the North-West side will want to be around that position in what will be an ultra-competitive League Two next season. Ogungbo is the club’s seventh summer signing, with manager Pete Wild choosing to do a lot of his business early on in the window. The Bluebirds have lost the influential Patrick Brough, who Ogungbo looks to be replacing, as well as top goalscorer Josh Gordon who Wild has replaced with veteran Jamie Proctor.
Who is Mazeed Ogungbo?
The Irishman joined the Arsenal academy in 2015 and has spent the rest of his career at the Emirates. He got to experience senior football when joining League Two side Crawley for the 2022/23 season, where he would make 23 League Two appearances, most often utilised as a left back. The young defender saw the majority of his minutes come towards the end of the season, which also tied in with the Red Devils best form of the year. Ogungbo has played as both a left-back and centre-half and it will be interesting to see how Wild uses him at Barrow. Capped four times for the Republic of Ireland under-19s, Ogungbo is held in a high regard and still only 20, has plenty of potential for improvement.
What’s been said?
Upon signing for the Bluebirds, Ogungbo said:
“It feels amazing I’m excited to get going, to meet the boys and it’s been a great process in getting to know the Gaffer and the way he wants to play so I’m really looking forward to it.
“I really really like the playing style, the intensity we play, and also the fans and the fanbase was something that really stood out to me when I played there last season. It just feels like a real family environment which is something that’s really important for me and will obviously help everyone perform out on the pitch.”
“As a player, I’d say I’m very progressive and I like to move the ball forward and I’d say I’m quite technical and athletic as well and I like to get crosses in the box and to get shots off and just combine and attack. In defense as I well I like to defend with intensity and help the team keep clean sheets.”
Writer’s view
Having had his first taste of senior football in League Two with Crawley last season, Ogungbo should improve for that experience this season. Only 20-years-old, he still has plenty to learn and under an up-and-coming manager like Pete Wild, we could see Ogungbo become a real asset to the Bluebirds. I’d expect them to be around the top-half of the table again this season, but they do need to bring in another striker to compensate for the loss of Josh Gordon.
