- Loan signing | Michael Olakigbe joins Latics from Brentford
- Winger signs on loan until the end of the season subject to EFL, FA and Premier League approval.
Wigan Athletic has signed midfielder Michael Olakigbe on loan from Premier League side Brentford FC until the end of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season, subject to EFL, FA and Premier League approval.
Olakigbe, who hails from London and is a product of the Queens Park Rangers academy, becomes Latics’ first summer signing after putting pen to paper on a temporary deal from the Bees.
After joining from Fulham in the summer of 2022, Olakigbe made an instant impact at the Gtech Community Stadium by helping Brentford B to the Premier League Cup after featuring on 27 occasions for the Young Bees.
The future was looking bright for the 20-year-old who, after impressing in his first season for his new employers, joined up with Thomas Frank’s senior squad for a pre-season tour of the USA before finding himself in several Premier League matchday squads regularly.
Olakigbe plies his trade out on the wing and has recently signed a long-term contract with Brentford following a successful start to the 2023/24 season. The wide man made his senior bow in September against Newport County in the Carabao Cup and made a good impression, prompting the Brentford boss to hand him his Premier League debut against Bournemouth just days later.
He has featured a total of 12 times for Brentford’s first team and spent last season on loan at fellow League One club, Peterborough United.
Olakigbe is also an England youth international and has represented the men’s Elite League squad in recent months, featuring in matches against Romania and Portugal in October last year.
He said: “I recently met the manager and sporting director and I really liked the sound of the project they are building at Wigan Athletic.
“The way Wigan like to play is exactly the style that suits my game and that is really important to me as I look to further my career.
“I played against Wigan last season, and I was impressed with how they played exciting attacking football. I’m looking forward to linking up with the squad in pre-season.
“The club has a great history and the fans are really passionate. I can’t wait to play in front of them next season.”
Manager Shaun Maloney said: “Michael is a talented winger who can play off both the left and right side. He is very direct, wants to play attacking football and he will therefore fit well into our squad and the way we want to play.
“I’m very pleased that we have managed to sign Michael. Not only does he have all the qualities that we are looking for as an attacking player, but he is hungry to succeed with us and I am looking forward to working with him.”
Sporting director Gregor Rioch added: “We have been tracking Michael for a while now and I am delighted we have been able to secure our first signing of the summer.
“I want to thank Brentford for their co-operation and putting their trust in us to work with Michael. We are all now looking forward to helping him develop his career further.”
Michael will join up with the Latics squad for pre-season in June.