Exeter City recruit new striker

27-year-old Nicky Ajose joins the Grecians on a free transfer

Ajose, who last season was promoted from League One with Charlton Athletic as well as helping Mansfield to the League Two play-offs, put pen to paper on a deal at St James Park following a successful meeting with manager Matt Taylor.

“I am delighted,” he said. “It has been an interesting summer for myself. I came down here and spoke to Matt, the manager, and when I got on the flight home my mind was made up. I knew where I wanted to spend the next part of my career.

“I am hungry to score goals with Exeter. It is why I play football. I am someone who likes to score, create and obviously, I want to win, but I like getting in behind defenders and causing problems.

“We are looking for promotion. It was strange last year because it was quite tight all the way and you could go from seventh to third in a week’s time. Hopefully, this year with the experience the boys have had and the manager, they will be able to get up automatically.”

Ajose met up with the players following their return from a pre-season trip to Jersey and has already been put through his paces with the rest of the players at the Cliff Hill training ground. He has been impressed with both the work they are doing and the physical fitness of the current City squad. 

“From what I have seen in the training, I know it is early in pre-season, but we are getting a lot of good work and information into the players,” he added. It is unusual at this part of the season, but it is something that I really like and hopefully they can improve me and take my game on further."