Toto's thoughts on coming to Shrewsbury Town
Today Shrewsbury Town confirmed their first capture of the January transfer window as Aristote Nsiala joins from Hartlepool United on a two and a half year deal for an undisclosed fee.The 24 year old central defender from the Democratic Republic of Congo joins from League Two Hartlepool for an undisclosed fee.
Town boss Paul Hurst had previously signed Nsiala at Grimsby, where the two worked together for two years, before Nsiala’s departure to Hartlepool last summer.
Nsiala spoke to the press about his decision to join Town:
“To move to a club in a higher division, with a manager that I know and worked with for two years – it made it an easy decision for me to make.
“I had a lot of good times with the gaffer and Doigy, and they know me as a person, and I know them as a good manager and a good coach.
“Off the pitch as well, they’ve been people that I still speak to for advice and still get along with them really well.”
Nsiala graduated from Everton’s youth academy in 2009, and after loan spells at Macclesfield and Accrington Stanley, he eventually joined Accrington on a permanent deal in 2012.
He was released by Accrington in 2013, from which he joined Vietnamese side TDCS Dong Thap, before joining non-league Southport in 2014.
‘Toto’ was then signed by Paul Hurst at Grimsby where he made 79 appearances over two seasons before joining League Two Hartlepool in the summer of last year.
Nsiala spoke of his first training session with Town: “It was really enjoyable – it’s colder here than it is in Hartlepool which I didn’t think it would be.
“I met a couple of the boys, and everything about the club looks great at the moment.”
Nsiala joins Town roughly midway through the season and he admits he is keen to get going and prove his worth at his new club.
“There’s still a lot of games to play and anything can happen, so I’m just here hoping I can learn and kick on as quick as I can.
“I want to help the gaffer out and I’ll do whatever he tells me to do basically.
“It’s a very good squad looking at the names and there’s a lot of players here who if I was playing against – I’d be wary of.”
Nsiala has made 21 appearances for Hartlepool this season at the heart of defence, scoring one goal against Notts County in August.
Nsiala joins a squad with several experienced defenders in it already, but he is not afraid to work hard to earn his spot: “There’s always two or three players for every position, and you’ve just got to fight for your place and perform on and off the pitch every week.
“I’m here to work hard and learn from the lads who have played in this league, or higher before.”
The paper work and registrations have all been completed but the club are awaiting confirmation from the EFL as to whether Nsiala will be available for tomorrow’s match with Fleetwood.
“Every player should always look for a new challenge to test themselves - and this is it for me. I’m here to try and perform to the best of my ability for this club and see where it takes me.
“The fans can expect hard work, if there’s a ball to be won I’ll try and win it and that’s it really. The gaffers brought me in to defend and that’s what I like to do.”