U21 | Luke Pearce joins Sligo Rovers on loan

Luke Pearce has joined Sligo Rovers on a short-term loan deal until the end of the League of Ireland season.

The striker joined City's U21 squad earlier this month, having previously been at Southampton.

Pearce featured on debut in a pre-season friendly against Potters Bar Town for Darren Purse's side and is now set to gain senior experience at the League of Ireland club.

Academy Manager Gavin Chesterfield commented: “It’s a great opportunity for Luke. Loan moves like this are really good for young players in their development and a huge part of our strategy. It’s a key time in the season for Sligo and for us, we want to make decisions with the best interests of player development. 

“We think that senior exposure and the challenges of that will benefit our players. Timing is really important and making sure that it’s the right move for our players, but our players speak really highly of their loan experiences and this is a great move for Luke.”

U21 head coach Purse added: “This is a great chance for Luke to go and play some men’s football. When these opportunities come up, I’ve always said that it’s not all about the U21s team, it’s about what’s best for each player’s development. I think this is the best decision for Luke to go out and gain experience.”

We wish Luke all the best during his loan spell at Sligo Rovers!