James Atama
The Sky Blues have officially signed midfielder Matt Grimes from Swansea City as the winter transfer window neared its close, following reports that the Swans were asking for a fee of £3.5 million for the 29-year-old.
Grimes, who had a solid tenure at Swansea, making 333 appearances and contributing 16 goals along with 33 assists, made his debut for Coventry by coming off the bench during a home loss to Leeds United. He then earned his first start against Queens Park Rangers at the CBS Arena on Tuesday night.
In a crucial match, Coventry clinched three vital points with an injury-time goal from defender Bobby Thomas, pushing them closer to a top-six position and the potential for a Championship play-off spot as the season progresses.
Grimes’ quality and experience are expected to be essential for Coventry’s playoff aspirations, and he showcased his capabilities during the game against QPR.
Playing a full 90 minutes, Grimes certainly left an impression on the fans by being the most active player on the field, recording the highest number of touches while helping his team maintain a dominant 60% possession. He also notably completed the most accurate passes, tallying 60, outpacing Thomas, who managed 45 accurate passes.
While such passing stats can sometimes be misleading, especially in matches dictated by possession, Grimes was particularly impactful, completing 12 passes into the final third. This ability to create attacking opportunities would have been exactly what manager Frank Lampard envisioned when acquiring him.
Lampard is likely encouraged by Grimes’ performance so early in his Coventry career, leading supporters to hope for even more significant contributions as the season continues. Grimes did receive a yellow card shortly after the hour mark against QPR, which might have limited his effectiveness in duels, suggesting he could enhance his impact in defensive situations moving forward.
As Coventry looks to secure a place in the top six in the coming matches, if Grimes can maintain the level of his performance against QPR, he will likely prove his worth and justify his transfer fee within six months of joining the club.
