Stags land versatile midfielder

Mansfield Town have signed midfielder Deji Oshilaja on a two year contract.

The 31-year-old joins the Stags following his departure from Sky Bet League One side Burton Albion.

Deji, who can also operate in defence, began his career with Cardiff City’s Academy in 2009, before signing his first professional contract in 2012.

The London-born player made his debut for the Welsh outfit in the League Cup in August 2012 before enjoying loan spells at Newport County and Sheffield Wednesday the following season.

After a short-term loan with AFC Wimbledon in 2015, Deji gained further experience in three successive loan spells with Gillingham between 2015 and 2017.

He then completed a permanent move to Wimbledon in 2017, where he recorded 67 league appearances over two campaigns, winning the club’s Player of the Year for the 2017/18 season.

His services were soon secured by Charlton Athletic in the Championship, where he made 25 league appearances.

Deji spent another season with the Addicks in 2019/20, before making a move to Burton Albion.

After arriving at the Pirelli Stadium in the summer of 2021, Deji made 133 appearances across three seasons in all competitions, taking his career total to 365 while becoming an integral part of the Brewers’ defensive structure. After putting pen to paper, Deji said: “I’m very happy. Having spoken to the manager, his staff and the players that I know here, I feel like it’ll be a great place to play football next season.

“The manager has a clear plan for me in terms of what he wants me to bring to the team so that’s exciting. The way people speak about him – I feel that’s someone I want to play for.

“I want to bring a lot of energy, a lot of organisation and a lot of quality. I’m a leader.

“The manager is building a team here where the environment and the characters of the dressing room are good characters so hopefully we can all gel and have a good season.”