Shrewsbury Town F.C. manager Paul Hurst has expressed his excitement over the signing of Ghanaian forward Charles Sagoe Jr on a season-long loan from Arsenal.
The 20-year-old winger is seen as a crucial addition to the squad, particularly in strengthening the wide areas—a position Hurst feels needed more options.
“I’m really pleased to get Charles Sagoe Junior on board because I think we have been lacking options in that wide area,” Hurst stated. The signing is the culmination of a long-term pursuit by the club, with Hurst revealing that they had been interested in Sagoe Jr earlier in the year. “He is a player that we have been after for some time – we were interested in him during the January window,” he explained.
“This summer he went away on tour with Arsenal, so we’ve had to be patient to get him,” Hurst said, adding that their persistent interest in the player helped seal the deal. “I think the fact we have been interested in him for some time has helped our case in getting the deal over the line.”
With Sagoe Jr now part of the squad, the focus shifts to getting him match-ready. His pre-season preparations differed due to his commitments with Arsenal, and Hurst emphasised the need to bring the player up to speed.
“Now we need to get him up to speed because his pre-season has been a little bit different due to him going away with Arsenal,” Hurst noted. The team is committed to helping Sagoe Jr reach peak fitness as quickly as possible, whether he starts or comes off the bench.