Former West Brom, Birmingham City, and Charlton Athletic star makes top-flight transfer after Notts County trial

Penybont have pulled off a major coup by signing former Premier League forward Jonathan Leko, who enjoyed spells with Birmingham City, West Brom, and more.

The experienced attacker arrives at Bryntirion Park with a wealth of Football League experience, having spent his entire senior career in the professional game.

It is a signing that underlines Penybont’s growing ambitions, with Rhys Griffiths adding another player with significant experience in the Championship and League One to an already impressive squad for a Cymru Premier side.

Jonathan Leko brings West Brom, Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic pedigree

Leko has played in the Football League throughout his career, predominantly in the Championship, where he has made more than 80 appearances.

The 27-year-old has also tasted life at the very highest level, making 14 Premier League appearances during his career.

Across 250 club appearances, Leko has registered 17 goals and 19 assists, highlighting the attacking quality he can bring to Griffiths’ side.

His best record has come in League One, where he has scored six goals and provided four assists in 44 appearances.

Last season, Leko featured 22 times across all competitions as his side secured promotion to League One, registering one assist along the way.

Now, he has opted for a move to Welsh football and Penybont.

Penybont beat off a potential League One move

It is understood Leko had a trial with EFL League One side Notts County this summer.

However, a move to Meadow Lane did not materialise, opening the door for Penybont to secure the services of a player with considerable experience of the English professional game.

The fact Leko was attracting interest from a League One club makes his arrival in South Wales an even more eye-catching piece of business.

A statement of intent from Penybont

Leko’s arrival is arguably the clearest indication yet that Penybont have ambitions of competing at the very top end of Welsh football.

New investors David Zeeman and Ryan Paisey have brought increased investment and ambition to the club, and the recruitment taking place this summer reflects that.

Penybont are recruiting players with extensive experience of the English professional game, and Leko arguably represents the biggest statement of them all.

A former Premier League player with more than 80 Championship appearances is now joining Griffiths’ squad.

Tyler Walker, Liam Shephard and Ryan Hill among impressive additions

Leko is just the latest name in what has been an extremely busy and impressive summer for Penybont.

Liam Shephard joined after leaving Newport County, bringing with him 280 appearances across the third and fourth tiers of English football.

The club have also paid a transfer fee to Aldershot Town to secure Ryan Hill. Hill has already made a big impact since arriving, further strengthening a squad that is starting to look considerably different to the one that finished last season.

Max Melbourne has also arrived after previous spells with West Bromwich Albion, Lincoln City and Walsall.

There is an interesting connection between Melbourne and Leko, too, with the pair having played together during their time at West Brom.

Penybont have also secured the return of Dan Higgs on a season-long loan from Cardiff City.

Higgs previously impressed during his time at the club and his return gives Griffiths another talented option as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts.

The club’s most recent arrival before Leko was Tyler Walker. The 29-year-old has more than 100 Championship appearances to his name and has also enjoyed a prolific spell in League Two.

Walker has represented the likes of Coventry City, Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth during his career, adding yet another player with considerable experience of English football to the Penybont ranks.

Penybont’s message is becoming increasingly clear

Penybont’s summer recruitment has been hard to ignore, and the arrival of Leko takes it to another level.

Shephard, Hill, Melbourne, Higgs and Walker had already strengthened Rhys Griffiths’ squad, but the addition of a player with Premier League, Championship and League One experience represents another significant statement.

Leko has made 14 Premier League appearances and more than 80 in the Championship. At the same time, his record of six goals and four assists in 44 League One games underlines his experience at that level.

With the backing of new investors, Penybont are assembling a squad with clear ambitions at the top end of Welsh football.