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Omobamidele and Cannon complete deadline day moves

Andrew Omobamidele has joined Nottingham Forest
Andrew Omobamidele has joined Nottingham Forest

Republic of Ireland defender Andrew Omobamidele and U21 striker Tom Cannon both completed late transfer deadline day moves on Friday evening.

Omobamidele joins Premier League side Nottingham Forest from Norwich for a reported fee of £20m [€23.3m], while Cannon has made the move from Everton to Leicester after the two clubs agreed a deal worth around £7.5m [€8.7m].

The 21-year-old Omobamidele has been capped six times for Ireland and progressed through the ranks at Norwich, helping them to promotion when they won the Championship in 2021.

The Kildare man's former club Leixlip United are reported to be in for a windfall payment as part of the deal.

Norwich's sporting director Stuart Webber said: "This is a deal that comes at the right time for all parties.

"Andrew is a player with an enormous amount of potential. We're really proud of the work that both Andrew himself and our academy and first-team coaching staff have put in to help get him to this stage."

Omobamidele joins former Liverpool striker Divock Origi as one of Forest's last-minute signings, along with Ivorian midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, England winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, Argentine defender Nicolas Dominguez and Portuguese left-back Nuno Tavares.

Meanwhile Cannon has immediately set his sights on promotion back to the Premier League with Leicester after his deadline day move.

The attacker, who has played for the Ireland U21s but is believed to be wanted by England also, already has experience of life in the Championship after a loan spell with Preston and he's eager to make an immediate impact with the Foxes.

"Everyone knows where the club belongs – that's in the Premier League," he said. "I’m sure that’s the aim this season, just to get back to the top and then take it from there.

"Even from walking around the building today, you can just smell it. It's on everyone’s mind and everyone’s aim. It’s one I’m now involved in and I’m looking forward to it.

"[Six wins from six] just shows the dominance of Leicester and how big the club is. Obviously, credit to the manager [Enzo Maresca], he’s come in with a good style of play and the lads have taken to it, so I’m just champing at the bit to get involved and learn from him."

Leicester unveil new signing Tom Cannon

Elsewhere Ireland U21 defender James Abankwah has joined Charlton Athletic on loan from Italian top-flight side Udinese.

The 19-year-old former St Pat's man joins the Addicks for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign.

Abankwah has two Serie A appearances to his name - making his full league debut for Udinese against Juventus at the end of last season - and has represented the Republic of Ireland at U16, U18, U19 and U21 level.

Another Ireland U-21 international, James Furlong, has signed for Hull City from Brighton on a three-year deal.

The former Shamrock Rovers youngster moved to Brighton in 2019 and spent time on loan at Motherwell last season.

Bohemians left-back Derin Adewale has joined Serie A club Lecce for an undisclosed fee.

Having joined from St Kevin's Boys, he progressed through the Bohemians academy system, becoming a regular for the U19s, and winning the Enda McGuill Cup last year.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut as a substitute against Sligo Rovers last November, and also started for the first team in Leinster Senior Cup wins against Crumlin United and Shelbourne this season.

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