Mansfield sign Ipswich Town striker Oli Hawkins for an undisclosed fee

Oli Hawkins becomes Nigel Clough’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window as Mansfield Town continue their preparations for the 2021/22 EFL League Two season.

The 29 year old began his career at non-league level for the likes of North Greenford United, Hillingdon Borough, Northwood, Hemel Hempstead Town and Dagenham & Redbridge.

In that seven-year spell, he would score over 80 goals with his best spell coming for Dagenham & Redbridge in the 2016/17 season.

Portsmouth came after the forward in the summer of 2017 and secured his services in August of that year. His first campaign for Pompey saw him make 35 appearances in all competitions scoring eight goals.

The 2018/19 EFL League One campaign was a impressive one for Hawkins. In 39 league appearances, the London-born player scored seven goals and assisted nine times as Pompey made the play-offs, but fell at the semi-final stage as they were beaten 1-0 on aggregate by Sunderland.

Hawkins rarely played the following season as a mixture of not being in the squad and the season being curtailed due to COVID-19 did not help him at all.

In August 2020, the now 29-year-old made the switch to Ipswich Town. Hawkins managed to make 23 appearances in all competitions last term, scoring once and assisting on two occasions.

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough spoke on what Hawkins can bring to the already fantastic squad.

“Oli will add a real presence in both penalty areas, something which we missed last season, both defensively and offensively.

“He’s an unselfish player and his assists’ ratio is very good, but his presence in both penalty areas is the main reason why we’re signing him.

“He’s been playing in teams who have competed towards the top end of League One in the last few seasons and we’re excited to add him to our existing line-up of strikers.”

With the season creeping ever closer, the Stags are still on the lookout to sign two goalkeepers after releasing Aidan Stone and transfer listing Marek Stech.

Clough looks to be forming a fantastic squad ahead of the new EFL League Two season and will be looking to finish higher than last season’s 16th place finish.

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