Cardiff City have confirmed the signing of young striker Kion Etete from Tottenham in a deal believed to be worth an initial £500,000.
The Bluebirds have been scouring their scouting network this summer in the knowledge that a new striker would be key to their transfer strategy. And they have found a player they believe to be a perfect fit for Steve Morison's new style of football.
The 6ft 4in striker has joined on a three-year deal after Cardiff saw fit to fork out a sizeable transfer fee for the first time since Max Watters joined the club from Crawley Town in January 2021.
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“It feels good to finally be here," Etete said. "The manager went into a lot of detail about the plan for the season, and how they want me to play. It’s my job to try and fulfil that. When the players know what the gaffer wants from them, it’s easier to put it into motion on the pitch.
“Obviously having gone from League Two to League One, the Championship is the next one. I just can’t wait to get started, get used to the level, and hopefully excel.
“I’ll always work hard for the team and the Club. Winning is the number one priority at the end of the day, and I’ll do as much as I can to fulfil that.”
While there were initial reports that a Spurs buyback option was to be inserted into the deal, we understand the north London club have included only a sell-on fee clause.
On the signing, Morison added: “I’m very happy. He’s an investment for the Club, and he’s got all the attributes to be a top striker.
“He’s strong, he’s quick, and he’s athletic. He will bring other players into the game, and he will run all day long. We’ve got a top player on our hands.
“He’s young, he’s hungry, and he’s a player that we see as ready now. He can get better and better, and we’ll like to see how far we can take him.”
Etete, 20, is thought to have great potential, although it has been stressed he is by no means the finished article as of yet. The forward impressed during two loan spells last season, scoring six goals and providing two assists for Northampton Town at the beginning of last season before switching to League One Cheltenham Town, for whom he scored three and set up a further three.
He adds to a youthful striker stable which includes Isaak Davies (20), Watters (23) and Mark Harris (23), however it is also understood Cardiff are in the loan market for a more experienced striker at this level, too.
Speaking on Thursday before the player had officially signed, Morison said: "People will just go, 'Oh, he is 6 ft 4in', that's not what he's been brought in for. He's being brought in because he is strong, he's quick, he's athletic," Morison said of the Tottenham man.
"He will bring other players into the game. He will run the channels. He will run all day long, he will harry and close down. I'd like to think that with playing regular football at Championship level, training with those types of players every day, he will get better and better.
"Being 20 and having a good upbringing at Notts County. I saw him at Northampton and one of the big things he needs to do is be consistent. We will ask him to be consistent with his hold-up play, the timing of his runs and his work play. We have got a top player on our hands. "
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