With the January transfer window now closed, Crystal Palace’s loan contingent were back in action across the English football pyramid – and there was plenty to celebrate.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Tayo Adaramola both marked their new chapters with senior debuts, Danny Imray made his first home appearance, and Joe Whitworth continued his outstanding season between the sticks with yet another clean sheet – earning a place in the Football League Paper’s League One Team of the Week.
Here’s a full round-up of how our Eagles on loan fared over the past few days!
Rak-Sakyi made his Stoke City debut as the Potters extended their unbeaten away run in 2026 with a hard-fought goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
Handed his first start by Mark Robins following his Deadline Day arrival, Rak-Sakyi played 78 minutes in testing Midlands conditions and made an immediate impression. He came agonisingly close to marking his debut with a goal just before half-time, seeing a close-range effort heroically blocked after reacting quickest to a rebound inside the box.
The contest remained finely balanced throughout, with Stoke pushing late on – substitute Million Manhoef denied by Max O’Leary as the visitors chased a winner.
The point keeps Stoke firmly in the play-off picture, now just four points adrift of the top six.
Rak-Sakyi and co are next in action on Wednesday evening (11th February, 19:45 GMT) with a trip to Charlton Athletic – a familiar venue for the winger after his standout 2022/23 campaign on loan at The Valley.
Adaramola made his Sheffield Wednesday debut on Sunday, featuring in the Championship clash away at Swansea City.
The Swans, who have built much of their season’s success at the Swansea.com Stadium, ran out 4-0 winners in a dominant home display. Adaramola started on the left and showed flashes of his athleticism before being withdrawn on 71 minutes as part of a double substitution.
Despite the difficult result, Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen was encouraged by what he saw from the 22-year-old: “Tayo was powerful on the left side. Of course, he needs to get used to this level as do all the other young guys, but I’m looking forward to working more with him.”
Adaramola will be hoping for more minutes this weekend as Wednesday travel to Millwall on Saturday (14th February, 15:00 GMT).
Whitworth’s outstanding campaign continued on Saturday as he produced a commanding ‘keeping display to secure his 12th clean sheet of the season in Exeter City’s goalless draw with Mansfield Town in League One.
The 21-year-old was called into action early and responded with maturity beyond his years, confidently claiming crosses and dealing calmly with set-piece pressure. Inside the opening 10 minutes, Whitworth was sharp off his line to gather a low half-volley from close range, setting the tone for the rest of his afternoon.
He remained alert throughout the first half, reacting quickly to push a driven effort from the edge of the area behind for a corner before safely collecting a dangerous cross on the stroke of half-time to snuff out another Mansfield attack.
Whitworth’s defining moment arrived just after the hour mark. A deep free-kick found its way through to the far post and struck the woodwork, but with Mansfield poised to pounce on the rebound, Whitworth showed superb reflexes and bravery to smother the ball at close range, preserving Exeter’s clean sheet in decisive fashion.
A deserved place in the Football League Paper’s League One Team of the Week followed, further recognition of the ‘keeper’s growing influence this season.
Exeter City sit 13th in the League One table on 38 points and return to action on Saturday (14th February, 15:00 GMT), hosting Northampton Town at St James Park.
Mustapha was not included in the matchday squad for West Brom’s draw with Stoke City in the Championship on Saturday.
Imray made his home debut for West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, featuring as a second-half substitute in the goalless draw with Stoke City.
Introduced in the 74th minute as Carlos Corberán’s side searched for a breakthrough, Imray showed energy and discipline on the flank, helping the Baggies secure a valuable point.
That result lifts West Brom out of the relegation zone, level on points with Portsmouth and just above the bottom three. Imray could feature again on Tuesday evening (10th February, 19:45 GMT) as Albion travel to Birmingham City.
Esse featured in both of Coventry City’s Championship fixtures over the past week.
The 20-year-old was first involved from the bench against Queens Park Rangers, introduced early after an injury to Ephron Mason-Clark. Esse immediately added energy and directness, playing the final 55 minutes as Coventry pushed for an equaliser in a tight 2-1 defeat.
Esse then returned to the starting XI against Oxford United and completed the full 90 minutes, producing one of his most threatening displays to date.
He came closest midway through the first half when a delicate, floated pass dropped invitingly inside the area, allowing Esse to strike first time, only for the Oxford ‘keeper to produce a fine save at close range.
Moments later, he was again involved as Coventry sustained pressure, seeing a follow-up effort blocked in a crowded penalty area after reacting quickest to a loose ball.
The Sky Blues continued to probe late on, with Esse remaining a lively presence in and around the box, but Oxford held firm to claim a point. Coventry City remain in the hunt for points and are next in action on Monday night (16th February, 20:00 GMT), hosting Middlesbrough at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
David Ozoh – Derby County
Ozoh made his sixth consecutive start for Derby County as the Rams were edged out 2–1 by promotion-chasing Ipswich Town at Pride Park, ending a five-game unbeaten run since his return from injury.
The visitors struck early through an own goal and, despite Derby’s growing control, restored their lead after Rhian Brewster’s penalty had levelled the contest.
Ozoh was withdrawn on the hour mark after another industrious midfield display. Derby are back at home this weekend, hosting Swansea City on Saturday (14th February, 15:00 GMT).
Goodman enjoyed another demanding week in League One, making back-to-back starts for Barnsley and delivering a series of important interventions at both ends of the pitch.
The 22-year-old was first in action in a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Northampton Town, where he was quickly called upon.
Goodman produced a sharp early save to deny a driven effort from inside the area, before later standing tall to repel a powerful strike after a mazy run into the box, helping Barnsley stay in the contest during key spells of pressure.
He followed that up with another busy outing in the dramatic 3-2 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.
Despite finding themselves three goals down at the break, Goodman kept the Reds in the game with a string of stops – most notably a strong save from close range to prevent a fourth before half-time, and a confident take from a long-range effort as Bolton pushed to kill the contest.
Goodman also impressed with his distribution, reacting quickly to launch counter-attacks and play an important role in Barnsley’s second-half resurgence as they mounted a spirited comeback.
Barnsley sit 15th in League One and return to action on Tuesday evening (10th February, 19:45 GMT) when they travel to Stevenage.
França was an unused substitute in Vasco da Gama’s 2-0 defeat to Botafogo in the Campeonato Carioca on Saturday.
Raynes Park Vale’s Isthmian Premier Division trip to Littlehampton Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Saturday.
Defender Aziz Ouedraogo, who joined Palace in the summer of 2024, is currently on loan at SV Beveren in the Belgian Challenger Pro League. He was an unused substitute in Beveren’s 2–0 defeat against Lommel on Saturday.
Forward Zack Henry, who joined Hassocks in October and competes in the Isthmian League South East Division (Step 4 of the English football pyramid), saw his match against Faversham postponed on Saturday.
Grante completed the full 90 minutes as St Albans City secured a 1-0 victory over Burgess Hill. It was the club’s first win in four games and also their first clean sheet of the season.
The win lifts St Albans up to 10th in the table, level on 38 points with Whitehawk and Chichester City.
Last season, Owen Goodman, Danny Imray, Tayo Adaramola and Joe Whitworth all featured featured in the Palace TV series Loan Life, where our cameras gained an unprecedented insight into their time adapting to new clubs and developing in the Football League.
