MIKAEL MANDRON has left National League side Eastleigh to sign for Championship club Wigan Athletic after the Latics swooped on Deadline Day.
The former Sunderland youngster, who was born in France, joined Eastleigh in June last year after being released by the Black Cats.
It didn’t take long for the forward to get used to Non-League football and his performances for the Spitfires soon got people talking.
He scored twice in the FA Cup run that saw Eastleigh beat Swindon Town and FC Halifax before losing at Brentford in round three.
Overall, he had scored 15 times in all competitions so far this season and will now be hoping to take his scoring form into the second tier.
Eastleigh agreed to sell the 22-year-old for an undisclosed fee and he has signed a two-and-a-half year contract at the DW Stadium.
Mandron told Wigan’s website: “I am buzzing to complete the move. It’s a great club and I am delighted to get the opportunity to come here – I just can’t wait to get started.
“I came through Sunderland’s academy and I played a few first team games there before being released this summer.
“I then signed for Eastleigh and it has gone really well for me there; I have enjoyed it and played a lot of games and scored goals too.
“At Eastleigh, I have had to adapt to a different type of football and another league and I learnt a lot there, I was able to work on different aspects of my game and I think it will make me grow as a player.
“This is most definitely a step up but I am always looking for the next challenge and I can’t wait to play and show everyone what I can do.”
Latics boss Warren Joyce added: “Mikael is a dynamic young striker who has worked with Andy Welsh at Sunderland and we are really optimistic he can develop with us over the next two and a half years.
“He has pace and strength and we look forward to working with him.”
