The opening throes of the 2025 summer transfer window has seen Notts County welcome two midfielders, and a pair of strikers, to Meadow Lane.

The EFL League Two side, who finished in fifth place last season, losing out in the play-offs, relieved Stuart Maynard of his managerial duties, have also seen the likes of David McGoldrick and Junior Morais, Sam Austin and Charlie Whitaker et al, leave the club.

County though, in the opening weeks of June, have moved quickly to add replacements, the new arrivals coming in the shape of Tom Iorpenda, Ollie Norburn, Matthew Dennis and Maziar Kouhyar.

Of the quartet, Iorpenda, a 20-year-old midfielder, is the one loanee, joining on a season-long from League One club, Huddersfield Town, whilst the other three are on permanent deals, including Kouhyar, the first Afghan to play professionally on British shores.

A play-off winner with his former club, York City, in 2022 (National League North), Qamaruddin Maziar Kouhyar has had two spells away from the York Community Stadium, at Hereford (2024) and Kidderminster Harrier (2024/25), scoring thirteen in forty-five at the latter.

Kouhyar is also an international player having made double figures for Afghanistan, his debut coming against Oman, in a friendly, back in August 2017; of his joining the Magpies, playing for instead of against them, he said: “Notts were always such a tough team to play against.

“I loved the football they played – dominating the ball and working so hard for each other to win it back.

“You could see the players were given a lot of attacking freedom – at times the centre back would be in the striker’s position – and it was difficult to deal with.

“I’m glad to be on the other side of it now!”

Full interview with Kouyhar HERE

The loanee coming in to Meadow Lane, Huddersfield midfielder Tom Iorpenda, recently turned twenty, began his career on the South Coast, with Brighton & Hove Albion, before moving to Yorkshire in 2021, signing his first contract the following year.

Iorpenda had a brief spell on loan at Hyde United in 2023 and has made fifteen appearances for his parent club; his debut, coming on a second half substitute in the FA Cup Third Round trip to Manchester City, in January 2024.

Having witnessed first-hand the County way of play, Iorpenda said on his arrival at Meadow Lane: “I also happened to watch a couple of Notts games last season and was really impressed with the attractive football they played.

“(And) that’s something I want to come in and help with.”

Full interview with Iorpenda HERE

In addition to Kouhyar and Iorpenda, County have also added, this far, Ollie Norburn and Matthew Dennis to their ranks, the former being a well-travelled, experienced midfielder and, like his fellow newcomer to the Lane, also has international experience.

Norburn joins the Magpies from League One outfit, Blackpool, with whom he’s spent the last two seasons, making more than fifty appearances; a career spanning near fifteen years the midfielder has racked up over 400 outings, as he joins his twelfth club.

With both Championship, and League One experience under his belt, Norburn’s best season (so far), was the 2018/19 campaign, with then League One side, Shrewsbury Town, scoring eleven goals in forty-nine games.

An occasional eye for goal, and a midfield engine, Norburn will certainly bring that extra to the heart of County’s play, saying: “In this league, you’ve got to be able to mix it. It can’t always be pretty.

“The last few clubs I’ve played for have looked to control games with the ball.

“But you have to make sure you look after the basics, like winning tackles and second balls, especially when conditions get tough in the middle of the season.

“That comes with experience and know-how – and I’ll be looking to add that to the group, as well as being a leader who brings out the best in those around me.”

Full Norburn interview HERE

Finally, there’s also been the addition of 23-year-old striker, Matthew Dennis, who arrives having enjoyed a brief spell at Carlisle United, in the second half of the season just finished.

The former MK Dons player, he spent the better part of three seasons at the Bucks-based club, created perhaps an unwanted piece of history when moving to Cumbria; on-course for relegation from the Football League, Dennis bagged six goals in fourteen games (joined mid-February).

A decent scoring record which was coupled with the facts that, not only was he their top scorer for the season, but also is now the lowest top-scorer in their history – that aside, he certainly has a knack in-front of goal.

You can watch the full interview, with County’s first summer signing, Matthew Dennis, HERE

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Oliver Norburn is one of the new players added this summer.