Bristol City winger Jonny Smith has joined League Two side Oldham Athletic on a season-long loan.
Smith is the sixteenth player to leave Ashton Gate this summer and the ninth player to do so on loan.
The 22-year-old has also been given a one-year contract extension by the club, keeping him in BS3 until 2021.
The loan move is the fourth of the winger’s career and his third spell in League Two.
He helped Tranmere Rovers to get promoted from the fourth tier of English football last season, scoring five goals and providing two assists for the club.
In the 2017/18 campaign, he put together an impressive season on loan at AFC Fylde in the National League, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists.
Prior to that, he spent half a season in League Two with Cheltenham Town, making nine appearances.
Smith, who is a versatile winger and is comfortable operating on either flank, arrived at Ashton Gate in 2016, signing from Wrexham.
He arrives at an Oldham side who are struggling this season and currently sit 22nd in League Two, with just four points from six games.
They travel to Home Park to face a sixth-place Plymouth Argyle side on Saturday.
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The Verdict
This looks like a smart move for all parties involved.
Smith was extremely unlikely to feature for Lee Johnson’s first-team this season, so sending him out on another loan to continue his development seems like a good idea.
The 22-year-old gets another season of regular senior football, which is likely the best thing for him at this point.
Oldham are struggling this season and have scored just three goals. The addition of Smith, who has shown in the past two seasons he is capable of creating goals and finding the net himself, should be a boost for them.