Aden Flint is set to join Mansfield Town on a free transfer despite interest from Championship side, Queens Park Rangers, according to journalist Darren Witcoop.
After joining Sheffield Wednesday in January, Flint made 21 appearances for The Owls as they won promotion to the Championship; however, the defender could be set for a surprise switch to League Two on a short term deal with Mansfield Town set to sign the 34 year old, despite Championship interest.
What has been said?
Darren Witcoop has stated via a social media post:
“Appears Aden Flint is joining Mansfield Town in a surprise move.
“Flint was on QPR’s list. Instead the free agent defender looks to be dropping down to League Two”
Who is Aden Flint?
The Pinxton-born defender started his career in the non-league pyramid with Pinxton and Alfreton Town before earning his first EFL move in 2011, signing for Swindon Town where he made 77 appearances for the Wiltshire club scoring eight as well as playing a part in a Swindon side that secured League One playoffs in the 2012-13 season.
Staying in the South-West, Flint signed for Bristol City in the Summer of 2013 for a rumoured fee of £300,000. He would go on to make 246 appearances for the Bristolian club in which he scored fifteen goals and won the League One title in the 2014-15 season and was named Player of the Year as he helped The Robins avoid relegation back to League One
Flint also featured in every game during Bristol City’s historic EFL Cup run in which the Championship side knocked out Watford, Crystal Palace, Stoke City and Manchester United. Aden scored in their eventual semi-final defeat against Manchester City.
For a large fee, the Englishman moved to fellow Championship side Middlesbrough on a four year deal, only spending one season with the club before moving to Cardiff City in the summer of 2019.
With The Bluebirds, Flint gained cult hero status after he scored a winner in the South Wales derby against rivals Swansea City, the defender’s first goal for the club.
The experienced man then moved to Sheffield Wednesday on loan in 2020, his spell being cut short in January following a hamstring injury.
Last summer, Flint joined Stoke City on a free transfer but only made nine appearances for the Staffordshire club before being loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday for the remainder of the season. In his second loan spell at Hillsborough, Flint made 21 appearances for the South Yorkshire club as they won promotion at Wembley.
Writer’s View
This is an outstanding signing. It would not have been surprising to see Flint sign for a top end League One side or even a Championship side, so for him to sign for Mansfield is quite the coup for The Stags.
Flint will bring quality, experience and leadership in abundance to Field Mill as Nigel Clough’s side will be hoping to finally get promotion to the third tier over the line in Clough’s third full season with the club.
