Confirmed Transfer Ryan Bennett on loan

[Jeff]

Leicester City Football Club have completed the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Ryan Bennett on loan until the end of the 2019/20 season, subject to Premier League approval.

The experienced 29-year-old moves to King Power Stadium having played 19 times in all competitions for the Molineux outfit this term, scoring once in the Europa League.

Standing at 6ft 2ins, the imposing centre-back started his career with Grimsby Town, making over 100 appearances for the Mariners before switching to Peterborough United in 2010.

A former England Under-21 international, Bennett earned a move to the Premier League with Norwich City in January 2012 and spent five years with the Canaries.

He signed for Wolves from Norwich City in May 2017 and helped the club to promotion to the top-flight in his first year. He went on to play on a further 40 occasions in all competitions last season, as Wolves earned a seventh-place finish in the Premier League.

Speaking to LCFC TV, Bennett said: "It's great to be here. It's a massive club and the league table doesn't lie. The manager has taken the team to another level and the players deserve great credit too. The Club is moving in a forward direction and it's really good to be part of it.

"I've experienced the atmosphere at King Power Stadium before too with Wolves and with Norwich City. It's a great environment here and it's a journey I'm looking forward to."

Bennett played the full 90 minutes for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side on their visit to King Power Stadium on the opening weekend of the 2019/20 campaign, a game which ended goalless.

The defender will now link up with his new team-mates, but won’t be available for Saturday’s Premier League tie with Chelsea at King Power Stadium.

 

[Orifice]

 

[tedfoxxx]

Welcome Gordon!

 

[Micky]

A good steady signing.

 

[Brown Nose]

So he cannot play until 22nd Feb.

Is he cup tied?

I'd rather have Morgan on the bench.

He's insurance I guess. Something we do for security and hope you never need to use.

 

[Feriol]

We've signed a player that we hope won't need to play. Not much to say really.

 

[M17TT C]

Not the exciting, tricky winger/wide man we were hoping for but provides more cover and also gives us the option to play 3 CBs with someone who is familiar with that system.

Mentioned on SSN we have an option to buy in the summer for £5m so whilst not the most exciting, there's no risk and it could prove vital if we get an injury crisis.

 

[tedfoxxx]

I still half expect Yohann Benalouane to pop up from nowhere during an injury crisis to two foot someone in the back of the head.

 

[Polar Bear]

That's what clubs do whenever they sign a back-up goalkeeper. It's not exciting, but seems quite sensible.

 

[tedfoxxx]

I wondered earlier whether we’d be better off just keeping Benkovic but thinking about it it’ll be good to have a more experienced player on hand. The mood will likely be one of panic and doom if Evans and or Soyuncu get injured so it does make sense. He may even end up being ahead of Morgan given how slow he is now.

 

[Skitzo]

So he cannot play until 22nd Feb.

Is he cup tied?

I'd rather have Morgan on the bench.

He's insurance I guess. Something we do for security and hope you never need to use.

He’s not cup tied

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Don’t the loaning club normally insist on a certain number of appearances, or has he not played at all?

 

[mabrah]

A sensible signing methinks, under the circumstances. Achieves the objectives; cover at CB and allows Benkovic to go out on loan.

See Evans going down and struggling the latter part of the Chelsea game emphasised why we needed cover!