Barnet have made a statement signing ahead of their return to the Football League by capturing experienced midfielder Emmanuel Osadebe.
The 28-year-old joins the Bees as a free agent after his release from Forest Green Rovers, becoming their fourth addition of the summer transfer window.
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Osadebe arrives at The Hive following a career that has taken him across the EFL and National League, most recently featuring for Forest Green in their unsuccessful fight against relegation. Despite the club’s struggles, he turned in strong performances, notching goals against Barrow, Wrexham, and former club Walsall. In total, he made 61 league appearances for Rovers after signing from Bradford City in January 2024.
Dean Brennan, who guided Barnet to the National League title in 2024–25, is confident Osadebe can thrive in his system.
“Manny’s a super athletic lad and ticks a lot of boxes for us in that department with his power and his build,” Brennan said. “Not just that; he’s got good technical ability and we believe we can help him be a better player. We believe we can help him score more goals and add that to his game. He bought into our philosophy and our mindset. We think he’s going to be a real asset for us. We think he’s going to be a strong player for the group.”
Osadebe began his football journey in Ireland with Dundalk before catching the eye at the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation College Programme. His breakthrough came at Gillingham in 2015, where he marked his debut with a Man of the Match performance in a 4–0 win over Sheffield United—only for it to later emerge he had been ineligible to play due to a registration error.
He remained with Gillingham until 2017, winning the club’s Goal of the Season award for a solo strike against Bury, before spells at Cambridge United, Newport County, Macclesfield Town, Walsall, and Bradford City. His time at Walsall was particularly productive, featuring 91 times and scoring eight goals.
Writer’s View
This is a clever bit of business from Barnet. Emmanuel Osadebe brings both versatility and proven Football League experience to a side looking to establish itself back in League Two. While Forest Green’s relegation overshadowed some of his stronger displays, he showed flashes of quality last season that could thrive in a well-drilled unit like Dean Brennan’s.
If Barnet can help him rediscover his scoring touch and maintain fitness, Osadebe could be one of the standout signings of their summer rebuild.
