Revealed: The striker who gave late snub to Dons on transfer deadline day
By Richard Cawley
Freddie Ladapo was the mystery striker who performed a late U-turn on a deadline day move to AFC Wimbledon.
Dons manager Neal Ardley revealed that the League One side had been frustrated after an attacking target headed elsewhere at the end of January despite coming in to complete a medical.
And the South London Press has been told that Ladapo, 25, spurned Wimbledon, instead opting to sign for Southend United until the end of the season – with the option of a further 12 months at Roots Hall.
The former Crystal Palace man, picked up from non-league Margate for an undisclosed fee in March 2016, has made three appearances for Chris Powell’s side.
Ardley said at the time: “We have all turned up at the ground, the player has arrived, and then 10 minutes into the medical he has had a U-turn and decided to pull out, saying it was not the move for him.
“He has had the wobbles, for whatever his reasons are. Unfortunately, we are left at a late stage having worked on a player who was the one and everyone else who was on the list is now tied up.”