By Momodou Jarju
Gambian hopeful Cody Drameh has signed a three-year contract with English Championship side Hull City from Leeds United with a club option of a further year.
Cody, 22, turned down a new deal with Leeds United earlier this summer to join the Tigers on a free. The club said Cody joined them with plenty of Championship pedigree, having won promotion with Luton Town in 2022/23 and racked up 67 appearances in the second tier.
Twenty-eight of those came during a season-long loan with Birmingham City last term – his third loan away from Elland Road after highly successful half-season spells with Cardiff City and the Hatters, the club added.
Cody disclosed his elation for joining the Tigers, saying it felt like “it’s been coming for a bit of time for me.”
“What attracted me was the owner and the interest the club showed in me. Everyone seemed like they really wanted me. It’s a pleasure to feel wanted and that was something that attracted me.
“It’s been a bit unstable for me – I’ve been around a lot – so now to finally settle down in Hull, and hopefully do some big things with Hull, is really nice.
“I’d say I’m an all-rounder. I like to get up and down, quite energetic, I like defending, one-v-ones and I can add something in attack.
“Now it’s finally done, I’m looking forward to getting my head down, getting among the team and working with the coaches. I’m really looking forward to a positive season,” he said.
The Tigers revealed that the Dulwich-born defender won the Bluebirds’ Player and Young Player of the Season awards for 2021/22 despite only arriving in January, providing three assists in 22 matches.
“The energetic full-back joined Luton 12 months later and started 19 matches, including all three play-off games, as Rob Edwards’ men secured a historic first promotion to the Premier League.
“Starting out in Fulham’s academy, the former England youth international moved to Leeds in August 2020 and made 10 appearances for the Whites, four of them in the top flight,” the Tigers stated.
Meanwhile, Cody is one of many Gambian descents born in Europe who are eligible to play for The Gambia. The former Scorpions’ gaffer Tom Sainfeit had made steps to convince Cody and other Gambian descents to represent The Gambia other than their countries of birth.
In an interview with The Alkamba Times May last year, ex-coach Tom Sainfeit said the player’s response was in the negative.
“Mahdi Camara (another Gambian descent) and Cody Drameh have no interest in playing for us for now,” Tom said.
Nonetheless, many Gambians are hoping that the talented right-back will change his mind and play for the country.
