Exciting Lincoln City forward Zane Okoro has joined AFC Bournemouth, as revealed by Lincoln’s Director of Football Jez George on Thursday evening.
Details
Any information on this deal is very limited at this point, with neither club revealing any detail on the matter. Whether this is just a straight loan, or involves an option to buy, is unknown as this stage. But the Imps Director of Football did shed some light on the matter when speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire on the Red Imps Club.
“Zane Okoro is at Bournemouth at the moment. He’s got a little spell there, where he’s going to play some U21 fixtures. He’s one we’ve got to get a pathway for. They’ve got to be our project players, the boys who have come through our system.”
Goalscoring Statistics
Zane, who has yet to sign a professional deal with Lincoln, has enjoyed an excellent individual campaign for the young Imps. He has been a regular feature in the Youth Alliance League, displaying his talent on a wider stage in the FA Youth Cup.
Across a variety of competitions this term, he has played 22 games for the U18’s, netting thirteen times. That included a league hat-trick back in November against Shrewsbury. Just two days later, Zane made his first-team debut against Chesham in the FA Cup, having an involvement in the Imps fourth goal of the evening. The following week, he started in the EFL Trophy and grabbed his first professional goal with a superb strike 25-yards from goal.
His first of two goals in the FA Youth Cup Third Round win over Bolton was awarded the clubs goal of the month for December. Zane scored four times in their run to the 4th Round of the competition, which was the joint-best run in the Imps history.
While not making his league debut yet, Okoro has been named as a substitute on three occasions this term, adding to his two involvements in the matchday squad last year. He also joined the City players at St Andrews in their FA Cup encounter against Birmingham last month. Zane is a graduate from the Brooke House College, joining their academy at U14 level before earning a scholarship with Lincoln two years later.
Writer’s View
When looking at the likes of Brett Pitman and Jamie Redknapp who have played for Bournemouth’s academy, this is an incredible opportunity for the Imps forward. The Cherries are mid-table in the Professional Development League South, and this should provide Okoro with the chance to prove himself at a category two academy. Understandably, he is highly rated at Lincoln, and this is his first move away since joining the Imps.
