MK Dons have completed the signing of Chelsea‘s Ike Ugbo on loan until the end of the season. The 19-year-old striker joins after his previous season-long loan to Barnsley was cut short yesterday.
MK Dons Sign Ike Ugbo on Loan
Ugbo is highly thought of at Chelsea, and his 63 goals at all youth levels between 2013 and 2017 earned him a loan move to the Championship to gain some first-team experience. The loan did not work out as planned, with Ugbo scoring just once in 18 games. This game in a 3-0 win over Sunderland.
MK Dons have their own problems at that end of the field, however. They have just 28 goals this season, the seventh lowest in the league. Forwards Osman Sow and Kieran Agard have failed to impress on a regular basis, scoring just six league goals between them this season. The signing of Ugbo will be sure to provide some healthy competition for these two.
International Level
As well as scoring goals for the Chelsea youth sides, Ugbo is off the mark on the international scale too. In the 2014/15 season, he made 15 appearances for the England U17 side, scoring five times.
He is currently part of the England U20 set-up. He played at the 2017 Toulon Tournament, netting twice in four appearances as England lifted the trophy.
Happy to Arrive
Ugbo spoke of his delight to be joining MK Dons when speaking to their official website.
“I’m delighted to join such a great club and I can’t wait to get started. I’ve settled in well today – the players made me feel comfortable and at home.
“The players MK Dons have helped develop over the years like Dele Alli and Benik Afobe inspired me to come here. Hopefully I can do my best to help the team climb up the table.”
Manager Robbie Neilson was also pleased to have finally got the deal over the line.
“Ike was one of our main targets during the summer but he went to the Championship. We’re really pleased, though, that it is worked out for us in January.
“He will definitely add a lot to the team – he’s a natural finisher but he’s also got great link play and good pace and physicality.”
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