Leyton Orient youngster Ruel Sotiriou has commited his future to the club by signing a new two-year deal. The Cyprus youth international was training with the club despite being unsure about signing a new contract. However, negotiations have now proved successful and the 19-year-old will be staying in East London until at least 2022.
Ruel Sotiriou Signs New Leyton Orient Contract
🖊 “I’m happy it has reached the conclusion it has, and we can focus on Ruel playing and scoring goals.”
Read the story in full, as Ruel Sotiriou pens a two year extension at Leyton Orient.#LOFC #OnlyOneOrient
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) August 14, 2020
Breakthrough Campaign
Despite spending the first half of last season on loan with Dover Athletic in the National League, Sotiriou finished as Orient’s joint third-top scorer with five goals, alongside Conor Wilkinson. Only Jordan Maguire-Drew (seven) and Josh Wright (eight) finished with more.
The majority of the teenager’s strikes came in a purple patch just after he returned from his loan. He netted in home and away matches against Newport County and nothced an impressive brace in the 3-0 win away at Stevenage.
Sotiriou has come through the academy at Leyton Orient and, aside from his spell at Dover, has had loans at Heybridge Swifts, Leatherhead, Bishop’s Stortford, Chelmsford City and Hampton & Richmond Borough.
What Was Said?
Speaking to the club website about extending his stay with the O’s, Sotiriou said: “It’s been a long-time coming – but obviously I’m delighted to be at the club where it all started, and now I can’t wait to kick on.
“Pre-season has been tough, and gruelling, but we have our first friendly tomorrow to get more match fitness up, which is important.
“I’m a forward and I like to score goals, and hopefully I can keep doing this and help the team win.”
Head coach Ross Embleton added: “I think it’s important people are aware, that since Ruel returned to training, his attitude has been excellent. I’ve never had any doubt that he was focused on being a Leyton Orient player.
“For everyone involved it has taken longer than we all hoped. I’m happy it has reached the conclusion it has, and we can focus on Ruel playing and scoring goals.”
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