Exeter City transfer latest as Grecians linked with moves

EXETER City are one of several clubs that are keen on signing former MK Dons defender Warren O’Hora. The 25-year-old Irishman was surprisingly released by the League Two outfit at the end of the season, having made 51 appearances for the club as they made the end of season play-offs.

An 8-1 aggregate defeat to eventual play-off winners Crawley Town ended MK’s hopes of promotion and O’Hara was one of five players, including Mo Eisa, who ended the season on loan at St James Park, that was told they were surplus to requirements at Stadium MK.

The Grecians are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements after Zak Jules turned down the club’s offer of a new contract and instead signed with League One rivals Rotherham United.

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O’Hora, a former Republic of Ireland youth international, started out at Bohemians but signed with Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee after a successful trial with the Seagulls. He did not make an appearance for the Premier League outfit, although he was a regular in their Under-21 team, and was loaned to MK in August 2020, where he made 17 appearances before the move was made permanent.

Following MK’s relegation to League Two in 2023 - and with a year left on his contract - the ambitious O’Hora made it clear that he still had aspirations of playing in the Championship admitting it was ‘crunch time’ for him.

Now, with his contract up and having made 177 appearances and scoring nine goals for the League Two outfit, he looks set to move to at least a League One club with the Grecians, Wycombe Wanderers and Reading all said to be chasing his signature, while Bolton Wanderers are another club linked with him.

The Grecians are also chasing the signing of Crystal Palace midfielder Malachi Boateng, the younger brother of former Grecian Hiram Boateng.

The 21-year-old Crystal Palace youngster has spent the last two seasons in Scotland, on loan at Queen’s Park and Dundee. While at Queen’s Park, Boateng made 41 appearances as the club reached the Scottish Championship play-offs. He was named the club’s player of the year and named in the PFA Scottish Championship team of the season.

A step up to Premiership side Dundee did not faze Boateng as he made 36 appearances last season and helped Dundee to a credible sixth place finish in the SPL.

Again, the Grecians face stiff competition for his signature with Boateng also wanted by League One rivals Stevenage and Northampton Town.

The Grecians are also being heavily linked with a loan move for Boateng’s Crystal Palace team-mate Joe Whitworth, who was named the Eagles Under-21 player of the year in 2023/24.

The 20-year-old is highly thought of at Selhurst Park and already has two Premier League appearances under his belt, but they – like Aston Villa with Vili Sinisalo last season – are keen for him to go out and spend a season on loan to gain valuable experience.

Any hopes City fans may have had of former loan favourite Cameron Dawson returning to Devon have ended after he became Steve Evans’ latest signing at Rotherham United.

The 28-year-old was released by his boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season and with City on the lookout for a goalkeeper, some hopes he would return to Devon after such a highly productive loan spell, which saw him become a key part of the League Two promotion-winning team in 2021/22, making 45 league appearances.

However, Rotherham confirmed him as their latest signing with Evans building a formidable-looking squad as they seek an immediate return to the Championship.

“Being a Sheffield Wednesday player is all I have ever known. But the time is now right to move onto a new challenge,” he said.

“My main feeling is one of complete gratitude to the football club and everyone involved. It’s been a huge part of my life for 13 years and I’m grateful for the journey I’ve been on, with the help of so many great people. I am incredibly excited for my next challenge, I really believe it’s the right time.”