Coventry sign Desire Doue’s cousin three days after transfer window closed

Coventry City have announced the signing of attacking midfielder Yann Gboho from Ligue 1 side Toulouse.

The former France youth international has penned a long-term contract with the Premier League new boys for an undisclosed fee.

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The deal was agreed prior to Tuesday’s transfer deadline but was subject to a delay while FIFA checked all documents pertaining to the move.

World football’s governing body has now ratified the move subject to UK visa approval.

Gboho, who did not feature for Toulouse in their defeat to Lille on Thursday night, is the cousin of Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Desire Doue.

The 25-year-old netted 19 goals and registered 12 assists during his two-and-a-half year spell at Toulouse.

Like Doue, Gboho began his career in Rennes’ famed academy before being loaned to Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem where he was handed his first taste of European football.

An 18-month spell at Belgian club Cercle Brugge followed where he scored four goals and provided nine assists.

He returned to France in January 2024, joining the then Coupe de France holders Toulouse and featured in their Europa League campaign.

Frank Lampard’s final dozen

Gboho, who had just one year remaining on his deal, becomes boss Frank Lampard’s 12th summer signing.

The Sky Blues shelled out just under £130million this summer in a bid to strengthen their hopes of Premier League survival.

But with two defeats from their opening two matches and no goals scored, Lampard admits some of the club’s summer signings still need time to build up their match fitness.

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“I’m happy with the players we’ve brought in, we had a lot of work to do in the summer,” Lampard said.

“We’ve done the work. It’s nice the window has finished and we can focus on the squad.

“Teams are strengthening their squads window after window and this is our first window which shows you the difficulty and the size of the task.

“It’s clear when you bring players in, some of ours were towards the end of the window, we’re trying to get players fit, into the squad and acclimatised to the way we play.

“There are some players we need to get up to speed and quickly because we want results.”

Coventry face a daunting trip to Lampard’s former club Manchester City on Saturday hoping to pick up their first points of the season.

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Ahead of his side’s first ever visit to the Etihad Stadium, Lampard says he wants his side to show no fear against Enzo Maresca‘s expensively assembled squad.

Embrace the underdog tag

“It will be a big challenge to see what we can do,” the Sky Blues boss added.

“We have to play with reality and freedom but concentration because the games at this level, moments will dictate games.

“We’ll be an underdog many times this year and that’s not a problem but you must take it on with bravery and not fear.

“We all know this season won’t look like last season, the quicker we realise that the better.

“Our mindset has to be clear on the rigours of the Premier League and to be able to get up after a difficult result.

“We knew we had a tough start, there’s a long way to go, we have to play this season on the limit.”