Lincoln City have sanctioned the signing of Eastleigh forward Ben House on a permanent deal, the club has confirmed.

The former Scotland U21 international has agreed a long-term deal with the Imps following a series of eye-catching performances for National League outfit Eastleigh.

He comes as Lincoln’s fifth acquisition of the January window after the loan swoops for Swansea attacking duo Morgan Whittaker and Liam Cullen, coupled with the arrivals of John Marquis and Brooke Norton-Cuffy.

A product of Reading’s academy, House found the net on four occasions across the first half of the campaign, earning the interest of numerous EFL clubs. 

Speaking on the move to Lincoln’s website, the 22-year-old explained: “It’s been a long time coming, but I’m very happy to be here and I can’t wait to get going with the rest of the season.

“I know the opportunity to develop here is top class, the club put their trust in young players and it’s a great opportunity for me to come here and progress with my career.

“I want to play as many games, score as many goals, and get as many wins as I can to help the team as much as possible and to impress the fans. 

“I came to a game recently and the atmosphere was incredible and I’m really looking forward to getting out there.”

Lincoln boss Michael Appleton added: “Ben is a player we have been monitoring for some time and so I am delighted we’ve managed to sort a long-term deal to bring him to the club.

“We’ve clearly strengthened a lot in the forward areas already this window, but what I like about Ben is he’s young, he still has a lot to learn, and he will be our player beyond this season. 

“Ben is not yet the finished article but he has excellent attributes which we can develop and he can play in more than one position, so he will add great depth and more options to the squad for the rest of this season.”

The Verdict:

Lincoln’s latest signing certainly seems to possess a vision towards the future as opposed to the here and now, with the Lincolnshire club already boasting a wealth of options in the final third.

House is set to face plenty of competition following his new side’s bid to bolster their frontline with three forward signings, although as Appleton alluded to, strength in depth could prove beneficial in the latter stages of this term.

Games come thick and fast in the third tier and with Lincoln currently embroiled in a fight for safety against all odds, they will be needing as many bodies as possible.

However, they have gained a reputation for developing young talent over the years, meaning that the signing of House has plenty of potential.