City have completed the permanent signing of exciting young goalkeeper George Wickens on a four-year deal.
The 22-year-old joins the Imps having spent his early career developing his game at Premier League Fulham.
Wickens went out on loan twice during his time at the Cottagers, gaining valuable first-team experience at National League Wealdstone and Scottish Premiership side Ross County.
Wickens also has an international cap under his belt having been called up to the Three Lions’ U18 squad in 2019.
He said: “I’m absolutely buzzing. Lincoln City feels like the right place for me at the next stage of my development.
“You only need to look at the track record of the young goalkeepers the club have brought through in the past few years and how well they’ve gone on to do.
“A big reason for that is the trust that has been put in them. It’s a massive thing to have the club behind you because it breeds confidence and that’s how you get the best out of a player.”
Head coach Michael Skubala said: “George has all the attributes we look for in a goalkeeper and impressed us with his mentality and maturity in the recruitment and interview process. We feel that George has a really bright future ahead of him and we are excited to sign him ahead of other clubs. George has shown his character with his decision to leave Fulham in order to play regularly and forge his career as a No.1 goalkeeper.”
Director of football Jez George added “To have executed this signing in such a timely manner hopefully evidences our recruitment process and planning. It also demonstrates how our model works by us investing a proportion of the transfer fee received for Lukas into such a talented young goalkeeper with huge potential and future asset value. We have no doubts that George has all the qualities required to positively impact our team immediately as our No.1 goalkeeper and to develop exponentially in our environment.
“As with other positions we have strengthened the overall goalkeeping department this summer and are really excited by all three signings, who fit our player profile for this position and will all only improve. Finally, I would like to thank Fulham and our board for their part in the speed at which we were able to reach a compensation agreement.”