Huddersfield Town sign Newport County goalkeeper Nik Tzanev
The experienced goalkeeper arrives to offer additional back-up to Lee Nicholls and Jak Alnwick following Jacob Chapman's loan move to Crawley
Huddersfield Town have announced the signing of Newport County goalkeeper Nik Tzanev on a free transfer, with the stopper signing a short-term contract until the end of the season.
The New Zealand international arrives to offer additional goalkeeping cover following the termination of Owen Goodman’s loan from Crystal Palace and Jacob Chapman’s loan move to Crawley Town.
Tzanev is likely to serve as Town’s third-choice stopper behind Lee Nicholls and fellow new arrival Jak Alnwick, who arrived earlier in the January transfer window.
The deadline day signing comes with plenty of prior EFL experience from his previous spells at AFC Wimbledon and Northampton Town.
Town head coach Liam Manning commented: “Having allowed Jacob Chapman to head out on loan earlier this month, we felt that if the right opportunity came to add another senior goalkeeper to the squad presented itself before the window closed, that would be something worth exploring.
“With experience of international football and plenty of exposure to the wider EFL and Sky Bet League One in particular, Nik will be able to slot straight into our squad and work alongside Lee and Jak under [head of goalkeeping] Chris Elliott from day one.”
Sporting director Chris Markham added: “The right deal for us at this stage of the season, Nik’s arrival lessens the burden on our younger goalkeepers at first-team level allowing them to concentrate on their own development within our academy, and as we’ve already seen gives Jacob Chapman the opportunity to play regular first team minutes elsewhere.
“Experienced, capable and aware of the role that we require to be filled between now and the end of the season, we’re happy to welcome Nik to the club and are pleased with adding senior depth to an area that required short-term cover.”
Tzanev said: “I’m really happy to be here at Huddersfield Town, it’s obviously a massive club with big aspirations and that was part of the appeal of joining.
“This is a division I know well, and getting to work for head coach Liam Manning sounded like an exciting opportunity.
“Lee and Jak are two quality, experienced goalkeepers, and training alongside them and Chris Elliott everyday stood out to me. My job will be to push them both and be ready when called upon, and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”