[themaclad]

Coventry City have signed Brandon Thomas-Asante from Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion.

The 25-year-old former Salford City striker has signed a four-year deal to become the Sky Blues' fifth summer signing for an undisclosed fee.

He is also the third Albion player from last season's Championship play-off semi-final squad to find a new home in under 24 hours following Conor Townsend's £750,000 move to Ipswich Town and Matt Phillips' move to Oxford United.

Thomas-Asante was signed by then Albion boss Steve Bruce from League Two club Salford City for an undisclosed fee on August deadline day 2022.

Brandon Thomas-Asante scores Albion's second goal in last season's 2-0 win at Coventry
Image source,Rex Features
Image caption,
Thomas-Asante scored Albion's second goal in last season's 2-0 win at Coventry

He scored nine league and cup goals before the end of the season - and added a further 11 Championship strikes in 2023-24, including one against the Sky Blues.

Another Championship side, Hull City, had reportedly also been keen on Thomas-Asante but the Sky Blues now have former midfielder George Boateng back at the club as part of their backroom team and the duo share Ghana international connections.

Thomas-Asante won his first cap for Ghana in a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic in June.

“Brandon is a powerful and pacy striker who has goalscoring pedigree at this level plus a great attitude and work-rate," said Sky Blues boss Robins.

“He can play across the front line and will further strengthen our attacking options."

Thomas-Asante began his career with his home-town club Milton Keynes Dons, making his professional debut at the age of 17 in 2016.

He had loans at Sutton United and Oxford City before leaving MK in 2019, then had a short spell back in non-league at Ebbsfleet United before joining League Two side Salford.

He scored 30 goals in 126 games and helped his side win the EFL Trophy before being recommended to the Baggies by his Salford team-mate Matt Smith, Bruce's son-in-law.

[themaclad]

Coventry City have made their sixth signing of the summer transfer window by bringing in teenage striker Norman Bassette from French second-tier side Caen.

Bassette, 19, has signed on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

“Norman is a confident young man already at 19 and we look forward to working with him," said Sky Blues boss Mark Robins.

"He’s a young player, with good experience. He has a lot of really good attributes and a huge amount of potential."

Bassette, who signed his first professional contract with Caen in 2021, has represented Belgium at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 level.

He made his professional debut in September 2021, before scoring his first Ligue 2 goal for Caen the following season.

Bassette scored five times in 22 games on a season-long loan in 2023-24 with Belgian top-flight side KV Mechelen.

[themaclad]

Coventry City have completed the signing of Swansea City midfielder Matt Grimes for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a half-year deal.

Devon-born Grimes, 29, began his career with Exeter City and joined Swansea when they were a Premier League side in 2015.

He had loans with Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Northampton Town, but has been a Swansea fixture in recent seasons, taking his tally to 333 appearances for the club.

It took three separate bids from Championship play-off hopefuls Coventry to get their first January move done - boss Frank Lampard's first signing.

"I've admired him for a long time," Lampard told BBC CWR. "He's one of the best midfield players in the league.

"Good experience, technical ability. He understands the league.

"He feels like a leader in the dressing room already so we're very pleased to have him with us.

"It's always a balance in the team to try and have experience within it. People who know what it takes can help the younger players alongside them to improve and help us improve.

"Most strong teams have that nice blend of youth and experience. We have a bit of that already but it's nice to have brought in more experience."

Grimes has started all Swansea's last 88 Championship matches - a record going back to early March 2023.

"It's a testament to how he looks after himself and his robust nature to be able to do that," said Lampard. "He's done that for quite a long time. He's a regular player so obviously we hope that continues with us."

"We've got a great player," he told BBC CWR. "It just shows the direction the club's going in. I think it's a big statement.

"He's an experienced player, who has played a lot of games and is always available. And he's a great guy to have in the changing room and off the pitch.

"On the pitch he speaks for himself with what he does. Another calm head who can control the game. He's a great passer, can get us up the pitch and does the dirty work as well.

"When you see a player such as Matt come in with the calibre that he is and knowing what he's done in the Championship, it gives us a big boost."