Grimsby Town have announced the signing of 25-year-old goalkeeper Jordan Wright, joining on a two year deal from fellow Lincolnshire club, Lincoln City.
Reported previously by The Real EFL, Wright has been a first-choice target for the Mariners this window, with that interest now turning into a switch to North Lincolnshire.
Coming through the ranks at Nottingham Forest and working his way up through spells at Hereford United, Kettering Town and Alfreton, Wright joined the Imps in 2022 but has struggled to find consistent minutes as a first team keeper – with 31 appearances during his tenure at Sincil Bank.
Being behind the likes of Carl Rushworth, Josh Griffiths and Lukas Jensen during his time with the League One side, this will be a fresh start for the Englishman to stake a claim at consistent first-team football
Becoming David Artell’s second summer recruit after Tyrell Warren made the switch to Blundell Park from Barrow last month, defensive improvements were a necessity coming into the season. With former England under-21 Harvey Cartwright returning to parent club Hull City, Town were short of options with Jake Eastwood the only contracted goalkeeper at the club.
The situation between the sticks at Blundell Park was prevalent last term, with neither option truly experienced enough. As a result, Paul Hurst and David Artell both found themselves chopping and changing the number one spot throughout the season.
In an interview with Grimsby Town’s Official Website , manager David Artell said:
“He’s an excellent shot-stopper and a commanding presence.
“He’s got good experience at a level and now he needs to play regularly over an extended period of time, so he’s now got a different challenge ahead of him.
“Obviously, he’s got Jake (Eastwood) to compete with and we’re looking forward to working with him. He’s an excellent keeper and I think he will be a terrific acquisition for us.”
Wright makes the switch with good reviews but it remains to be seen whether Artell will look for a more cultured, experienced option to avoid a similar situation to last season.
Writer’s View
This could be a good move for both parties with the prospect of first team football now on the table for Jordan Wright. However, one concern would be the lack of appearances and overall experience which Mariners fans will be familiar with following last season’s keeper situation.
The need for an experienced option may or may not be a necessity but Wright has the manager’s confidence and could prove to be an astute addition for the club.
