Coventry City will kick off their pre-season training later this summer with at least two fresh faces joining the squad, reflecting both past and present dealings. The Sky Blues have wasted no time in their efforts to bolster their team ahead of the upcoming Championship campaign.
Already, the club has made some adjustments to their roster, although most players are under contract having arrived just last summer. Departures include Liam Kelly, Simon Moore, Dermi Lusala, Bradley Stretton, and Luis Binks, who returned to parent club Bologna after his loan spell. Additionally, Callum O’Hare has been offered a new contract as his existing deal nears its end next month.
On Friday, the club officially announced the signing of Raphael Rodrigues from Macarthur in Australia, cleverly unveiling the news through social media. Rodrigues, a winger, expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, marking his debut in English football.
Rodrigues stated, “Speaking to the manager and everyone at the club, they showed me a lot of confidence that they believe that I can come here and make an impact. I mean, it’s going to be hard, but I think they’ll help me adapt in the best way possible and then help me with this next step in my career.”
He added, “I like to be creative and express myself and hopefully I can score a lot of goals and create a lot of assists and just entertain people. I’m buzzing, I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started.”
In addition to Rodrigues, Ephron Mason-Clark is another new face joining the squad. Mason-Clark’s deal was sealed in January, but he remained at Peterborough United for the second half of the season. Reflecting on Coventry’s recent campaign, Mason-Clark expressed his eagerness to join the team and contribute to their success.
He said, “I saw how well they were doing over the season and especially that FA Cup run they had. I was fully focused on my time at Peterborough, but I did have a little eye on what Coventry were getting up to. For me it was a really easy decision. Speaking to the manager, it was something that I wanted to be part of.”
Mason-Clark continued, “Seeing how the team plays is something was something I wanted to join and take my game to the next level. Each step has moulded me into the person I am today and hopefully this next journey can further that as well. I’m just preparing myself mentally and physically for a tough league. I can’t wait to impress and work hard for the team and not just the fans but my teammates and the staff as well. I really can’t wait to get started.”
