Exeter City fans will have to wait to see new signing Millenic Alli make his Football League debut, but the flying frontman has promised to put smiles on the faces of the Red Army. The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal at St James Park on Tuesday, after the Grecians agreed a fee with National League side FC Halifax Town for his services.
Alli has been nursing an injury, though, and has not played since scoring the opening goal of a 2-1 win at Altrincham on Boxing Day, his seventh and final goal for the club this season in just 21 appearances.
His injury should not keep him out for long, but after committing to the Grecians, the Irishman can’t wait to get started and show City fans why he is regarded as one of non-League’s hottest talents.
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“By the grace of God (I’ll be back soon,”) he said. “Making my Football League debut is going to be a blessing and something I have been waiting for, for a long time. I can’t wait to get that opportunity.
“I want to play as many minutes as possible and try and score as many goals as possible. I want to have a good relationship with the fans and get the club to where it should be. The fans make football, so I will try and do my best for them and make them happy and make the club happy.”
Alli was a youth player at Bury before he joined South Shields and after spells with Ashton United and Stockport County, he ended up at Halifax. The 2022/23 season saw Alli burst onto the scene scoring 11 times in 37 matches, which helped the Shaymen reach the FA Trophy final, where they beat Gateshead 1-0 at Wembley Stadium. This year, Alli has continued that good form, which alerted the Grecians to his services.
That said, he was already on the radar of City boss Gary Caldwell, who said: “Millenic is someone I have seen play live for a few years now and I have really seen him progress well and consistently score goals in the National League.
“He has not played as an out-and-out number 9 every week but we really see the potential that he can play that role, as well as a left 10. He will be a real asset to goals and assists with his speed and his power and he will cause defenders lots of problems.
“He has great physicality and one-v-one with his speed. He is someone who will really excite the fans and he excited me with his end product when you see goals with left foot, right foot and header. He likes to get at players and is the kind of player we have been looking for all season since Demetri Mitchell got injured.”
Alli was warmed by the fact Caldwell had shown such a strong interest in his development adding: “It shows that he believes in me. It is always good to play under someone that has got a lot of belief in you, so yeah, I can’t wait.
“It feels fantastic. I have been waiting a long time. It’s taken a good few days to get it sorted, but I am so happy to get it over the line. I think it is going to be a good step for me to make. I am looking forward to the challenge and I can’t wait to show everyone what I can do.
“There are a lot of good players in non-League, but League One is tough with a lot of good teams. I just have to try my best and work hard, really.”
Alli was City’s second signing of the day on Tuesday after they also announced striker Mo Eisa had joined from MK Dons. The 29-year-old frontman joins on loan, but that could be made permanent in the summer with the former Cheltenham Town, Bristol City and Peterborough United poacher out of contract this summer.
“Mo is a goalscorer and he is someone who is desperate to play and score goals,” Caldwell said. “We are really pleased to get him in, as it’s not easy to get a proven goal scorer.
“He’s of a good age and at the peak of his career, and he is someone who has experience in all three divisions of the EFL. Having spoke to him, he is really hungry as he has not played as much as he would have liked at his club. He is really motivated to well for us.
“From the minute we first spoke, he was really keen to come to Exeter which is really important. He had other offers but he was only ever interested. It is great that he has the commitment, and I have no doubt he will be a key component of what can still be a very successful season.”
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