Defender Mitchell Roberts has signed for Latics on loan from Birmingham City.
The 21-year-old, who has enjoyed loans with Harrogate and Carlisle in recent seasons, arrives at Boundary Park on a deal until 1 January.
A left-footed defender who can operate at full-back, wing-back and in the centre of the defence, Roberts has spent the past 11 years at St Andrews as he has progressed through the youth ranks and adds further defensive options to the squad.
Manager John Sheridan said: “Mitch is a very capable young defender who has built up a good reputation at Birmingham, he has a solid reading of the game and can use the ball well.
“He is tall and athletic, gives us good balance and has a lot of the qualities a manager looks for in a modern defender.
“I still think we probably need players but I just want people who are fit and available and for us to be competitive as a team.”
Born in the West Midlands, Roberts has been schooled at Birmingham, emerging as one of the club’s most promising youngsters and signing a professional contract in 2020.
Having established himself as a regular in the Blues’ U23 squad, his first taste of EFL football was on loan at Harrogate in January 2021, before spending the latter part of last season with Carlisle.
In between his two loans, Mitchell made his senior Birmingham debut in the EFL Cup and has also represented the club in the Championship.
Speaking after agreeing the loan, Roberts said: “This is a massive opportunity for me at a very big club and I’m really pleased to be here.
“We know as a club that we need to be up there and competing in this league, and that starts with working hard and being aggressive.
“I can play across the back-line and I’m fairly quick so when I play at full-back I like to have an engine. You want to take any opportunity with both hands but this is a chance that I really need to take and I’m ready to get going.”
Mitchell has been allocated squad number 15. Having received clearance from the National League, the deal is again subject to the relevant approval from the EFL and FA.
You can sponsor Mitchell for the current season, priced at £250+VAT with home and away packages on offer. For more details, email commercial@oldhamathletic.co.uk.
Welcome to Latics, Mitchell!