Shrewsbury Town sign Everton's Matthew Pennington and Blackburn's Harry Chapman on loan
- Published
Harry Chapman is just three short of 50 Football League appearances
Shrewsbury Town have made their first two January transfer window signings - Everton defender Matthew Pennington and Blackburn midfielder Harry Chapman.
Pennington, 26, makes his seventh loan move from Goodison Park, having previously been with Tranmere Rovers, Coventry City, Walsall, Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Hull City.
Chapman, 23, was Thursday's first capture for the League One club.
Like Pennington he joins the relegation battlers until the end of the season.
"Matthew's a good type that will get along well with our dressing room," said new boss Steve Cotterill. "I don't have any worries about him integrating.
"We are quite light in the central defensive area and at right back. Matthew can play right-side centre back, left-side centre back and in the middle. Anywhere in the three, he fits.
Matthew Pennington has had six previous loan spells with Tranmere Rovers, Coventry City, Walsall, Leeds United, Ipswich Town (above) and Hull City
"Harry gives flexibility. He can play as a 10 and in both wide areas. He's dynamic and has done well in the Championship."
Hartlepool-born former England Under-20 international Chapman began his career in the north-east, spending time on loan with Barnsley, Sheffield United and Blackburn.
He then joined Rovers on a more permanent basis in January 2019, since when he has made 12 Championship appearances, all but one of them as substitute.
Both may have to wait to make their debut for Cotterill's improving side as Shrewsbury's New Year's Day game with Crewe was called off after a Covid-19 outbreak.
Their next scheduled game after that is the FA Cup third round trip to Premier League club Southampton on 9 January - and Shrewsbury are yet to reveal whether either would have clearance to play in that.
Shrewsbury, whose chairman Roland Wycherley was awarded an MBE in the New Year's honours list, are 16th in League One.
They are now five points clear of danger, after winning four of their last five League One games - having not lost in their seven league matches since Cotterill took charge on 27 November.
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