Exeter City have secured the permanent signing of Rangers centre-back Johnly Yfeko on a two-year contract, activating a clause in his loan agreement. The Grecians paid an undisclosed fee for the 21-year-old, who impressed in 13 appearances before a hamstring injury in October sidelined him for much of the season.
The club has also exercised contract extension options for two forwards: 34-year-old Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis, who has netted 12 goals in 46 appearances since arriving last summer, and 24-year-old Jay Bird, who scored five times in 10 games while on loan at Rochdale.
Speaking about Yfeko, manager Gary Caldwell said: “I told Johnly today that he has every attribute needed to become a top player. Now he must focus on staying fit next season. His professionalism and consistency are impressive, and we’re thrilled to bring him in permanently.”
In squad updates, Exeter have released eight players following the expiration of their contracts. Departing are seasoned defenders Angus MacDonald and Ben Purrington, Kenya international Vincent Harper, centre-back Cheick Diabate, reserve keeper Shaun MacDonald, and academy graduates Mitch Beardmore, Gabe Billington, and Max Edgecombe.
The club is currently in contract talks with midfielders Caleb Watts, Jake Richards, and Pedro Borges, as well as young goalkeepers Harry Lee and Frankie Phillips.
Veteran trio Kevin McDonald, Demetri Mitchell, and Yanic Wildschut, along with forward Pat Jones, have been invited to pre-season training, although none have been offered new deals at this time. Wildschut missed the entire season due to a knee ligament injury sustained last August, while Mitchell also struggled with knee issues.
