Drogs star Adegboyega lands Norwich move, while Cork City add English midfielder

LAST UPDATE | 3 Aug 2023

TALENTED DROGHEDA UNITED centre-half Emmanuel Adegboyega will link up with fellow Irish youngsters Adam Idah and Andrew Omobamidele at English Championship club Norwich after completing his move from relegation-threatened Drogheda United for an undisclosed fee.

The 19-year-old Co. Louth native rejoined United from Dundalk’s youth setup in January and has become one of their standout players since making his League of Ireland Premier Division debut off the bench against Shamrock Rovers during the second game of the season.

Adegboyega has made 24 appearances for Kevin Doherty’s side this season, scoring his first professional goal in the 1-0 win over UCD in March. He was nominated for the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month award for July.

“In the space of five or six months, looking at where I’m heading, it’s drastic; it’s life-changing, to be honest,” said Adegboyega ahead of his move across the water.

“What the club has done for me, the coaching, the staff, the players, especially my teammates; they have helped me come this far. All I can say is thank you.”

“Kev (Doherty) was a former centre half aswell. Daire (Doyle, assistant manager)… Both of them were in England. The things I learned from them week in, week out in training… Thank you to both of them,” Adegboyega added.

To play in it week in, week out, the fans here were exceptional. They even started a chant for me last week. It’s a shame because I wish I could hear more and more of it.

“But even the little stuff like that, I love it, it’s fantastic.

“Everyone: all I can say is thank you for everything you have done for me. And the support, they were very good to me.”

Adegboyega celebrating his first senior goal against UCD. Evan Treacy / INPHO Evan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty said of Adegboyega’s departure: “It will be a big loss. I didn’t want him to go, obviously.

As a player, he was brilliant. I’d have loved to have kept him for the rest of the season and we did everything we could but for Manny himself, it’s a really amazing move.

“Even in the short time with us, how much he’s improved… he’s been excellent for us. He has a big future. It was a great signing for us to be able to get him back. We knew he had that potential. Did I think he was going to be that good straight away? I was probably surprised at how quick he settled in.

“He has all the attributes to go on and have a really great career. Never mind the football attributes, but as a man. He has the right temperament, the right attributes, he works so so hard,” Doherty said.

Ben Worman in action for Cambridge United. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Elsewhere, Cork City — who currently occupy the relegation play-off position, five points behind Drogheda — have announced the signing of 21-year-old English midfielder Ben Worman pending international clearance.

Worman made 21 first-team appearances for English League One outfit Cambridge United last season, including 15 in the league.

Worman, who first joined his hometown club at the age of eight, became Cambridge’s youngest ever player when he made his first-team debut in November 2017 at the age of 16.

Over the next four seasons, he had several short-term loan deals at clubs lower down the English football pyramid before breaking into Cambridge’s first team in 2021/22.

Over the last two seasons, he made 46 appearances for The U’s in all competitions, scoring two goals, before being released this summer.

Of his move to Leeside, Worman said: “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity. I am at the stage of my career where I want to play as many games as I can, so hopefully I can do that here and show everyone what I am about.

We want to get out of the position we are in the league, that’s massive for the club. Giving 100% is the minimum requirement for each game and that is what I will be looking to do, to give my all. The fans can expect that from me, at a minimum, and I will also be looking to try and create and score a few goals along with that as well.

“I have heard good things about the club and good things about the league. Quite a few players have gone over to Ireland and it has been a good opportunity for them, so I was excited when the chance arose and I am looking forward to it.”

City’s sporting director Liam Buckley added: “We are very pleased to get Ben in. He’s a good addition to the group, he has quality and he has League One experience as well. He can score and create goals, or he can also play deeper, so he will give us good options in the middle of the park.”

City have also confirmed that Daniel Krezic has left the club and returned to Sweden.