Former Forest Green Rovers and Swindon Town loanee Brandon Cooper has returned to League One outfit Leyton Orient on a permanent basis, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal, it has been officially confirmed.
The Wales international moved to Leyton Orient on a short-term loan from Swansea City on transfer deadline day at the beginning of September and went on to make 17 appearances in all competitions at Brisbane Road.
After a successful spell with the Os, the 24-year-old returned to Swansea, the club he has been with since 2006. However, Leyton Orient have now agreed a deal with the Swans to sign Cooper on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.
Speaking to club media at his announcement, the Welshman revealed why it was an easy decision for him to put pen to paper on a contract until 2026:
“Everything about the club made me want to come back. Playing at the stadium in front of the fans who fill out the ground almost every week and the style of play suits me well.
“There are lots of attractive things about the club. I loved my time here, and it was a no-brainer for me to come back.”
Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens went on to call Cooper “fantastic” and admitted he could become a top player in the future for the club:
“We’re really happy to have secured Brandon on a permanent deal. Brandon came in and was fantastic for the first few months of the season.
“We think that there is real room for development in him, and I think he can go on to become a really good player for the club.”
Cooper played for Forest Green Rovers on loan last season as the side were relegated from League One and made 22 appearances in all competitions across the 2022/23 campaign.
Following an impressive 3-0 win away at league-leaders Portsmouth on Saturday, Wellens’ team sit inside the top ten in England’s third and are twelve points above the relegation zone.
Writer’ View
This is excellent news for Leyton Orient supporters which comes just off the back of their most impressive victory all season, becoming just the second team to beat Pompey at Fratton Park and have now bolstered their defensive department once more.
The ex-Forest Green Rovers man has been a massive asset for the Greater London club and for Wellens since arriving in September and will undoubtedly play his part in helping the side get as far up the League One table as possible before the end of the season, securing safety, which was always the aim.