The 2025–26 season is the 142nd season in the history of Lincoln City and their seventh consecutive season in League One. The club are participating in League One, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the EFL Trophy.
Season overview June On 5 June, the club launched their new home strip for the season, with Branston remaining their front of shirt sponsor.
July On 3 July, the club launched their new away strip for the season.
On 10 July, Tendayi Darikwa was appointed the new club captain.
On 29 July, the club confirmed its squad numbers for the season.
On 31 July, the club launched their new third strip for the season.
August On 11 August, directors Roger Bates, Sunil Hindocha, Herman Kok, Greg Levine, Steve Tointon, Chris Travers, and Nick Ragland all stood down from the clubs board, with the new board now consisting of Andrew Fowler, Ron Fowler, Harvey Jabara, David Lowes, Sean Melnick, Clive Nates (chair), Graham Rossini, Jay Wright (Vice-chair), Phil Scrafton, Amanda Slater, and Liam Scully.
On 26 August, Ivan Varfolomeev was called up to the Ukraine U21 squad.
September On 3 September, lifelong Imps fan Jack Harvey joined the ownership group alongside his family, as well as further US investment through Ken Maurice Newcomer, Mark Talarico, Dan Marolis and Alexander Schreck.
October On 3 October, Ivan Varfolomeev was called up to the Ukraine U21 squad.
On 4 October, Dexter Lembikisa was called up to the Jamaica squad.
On 6 October, Justin Obikwu was called up to the Trinidad and Tobago squad.
On 23 October, Lincoln City were fined £8,500 by The Football Association after supporters aimed "sectarian chants" at James McClean during their match against Wrexham on 3 May.
November On 4 November, Ivan Varfolomeev was called up to the Ukraine U21 squad.
On 7 November, Rilmac finalised an agreement to sponsor the South Stand at the LNER Stadium and the back of the third kit.
On 8 November, Dexter Lembikisa was called up to the Jamaica squad.
January On 14 January, Lincoln City confirmed that Liquid Investments, Inc were seeking to become the club's controlling shareholder, with Ron Fowler assuming the position of chairman.
On 14 January, the club published their annual accounts for the year ending June 2025.
On 21 January, the club were fined £16,000, following homophobic chanting aimed at the Chelsea fans in the EFL Cup earlier in the season.
On 26 January, the EFL have issued clearance for the change of control process which will see Liquid Investments Inc. increase their shareholding in the Imps and Ron Fowler become chairman on 4 February.
February On 4 February, Ron Fowler became chair of Lincoln City Holdings and Lincoln City Football Club, with Clive Nates taking up his new role as co-vice chairman alongside Jay Wright.
March On 16 March, Ryan Oné was called up to the Scotland U21 squad.
On 17 March, Ivan Varfolomeev was called up to the Ukraine U21 squad.
On 20 March, Kamil Conteh was called up the Sierra Leone squad.
April On 6 April, they won promotion to the Championship, following their 2–1 win against Reading.
On 10 April, the club launched a special one-off kit to be warn on the final day of the season, inspired by Graham Taylor and his 1975–76 title winning side.
On 21 April, they became champions of League One, following their 2–0 win against Doncaster Rovers.
May On 5 May, Jack Moylan was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad.
On 12 May, Lincoln City issued their squad update following the conclusion of the season.
On 25 May, Jack Moylan was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad.
Current squad
No. Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (age) Signed from Date signed Fee Contract end Goalkeepers 1 George Wickens GK Petersfield Fulham 20 July 2024 Nominal Fee 30 June 2028 13 Zach Jeacock GK Birmingham Birmingham City 3 July 2024 Free Transfer 30 June 2029 21 Jamie Pardington GK Aldridge Cheltenham Town 1 July 2024 Free Transfer 30 June 2026 Defenders 2 Tendayi Darikwa RB Nottingham Apollon Limassol 5 July 2023 Free Transfer 30 June 2027 3 Adam Reach LB Chester-le-Street Wycombe Wanderers 1 September 2025 Free Transfer 30 June 2027 5 Adam Jackson CB Darlington Hibernian 11 August 2020 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 6 Ryley Towler CB Bristol Portsmouth 7 July 2025 Undisclosed 30 June 2029 15 Sonny Bradley CB Kingston upon Hull Derby County 1 July 2025 Free Transfer 30 June 2027 22 Tom Hamer CB Bolton Burton Albion 19 July 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2029 23 Josh Honohan LB Carrigaline Shamrock Rovers 1 January 2026 Undisclosed 30 June 2029 25 Deji Elerewe CB Croydon Bromley 25 January 2026 Undisclosed 30 June 2029 Midfielders 8 Tom Bayliss CM Leicester Shrewsbury Town 1 July 2024 Free Transfer 30 June 2028 14 Conor McGrandles CM Falkirk Charlton Athletic 14 June 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 16 Dom Jefferies CM Newport Gillingham 18 July 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 24 Ivan Varfolomeev DM Simferopol Slovan Liberec 21 August 2025 Undisclosed 30 June 2029 28 Kamil Conteh CM Lambeth Bristol Rovers 2 February 2026 Loan 31 May 2026 Forwards 7 Reeco Hackett RW Redbridge Portsmouth 14 June 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 9 James Collins CF Coventry Derby County 20 January 2025 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 10 Jack Moylan AM Kilbarrack Shelbourne 1 January 2024 Free Transfer 30 June 2030 11 Oscar Thorn RW Southend-on-Sea Colchester United 26 August 2025 Undisclosed 30 June 2029 12 Erik Ring LW Södertälje AIK 23 August 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 17 Rob Street CF Oxford Cheltenham Town 2 July 2024 Undisclosed 30 June 2030 18 Ben House CF Guildford Eastleigh 24 January 2022 Undisclosed 30 June 2028 19 Alfie Lloyd CF Yeovil Queens Park Rangers 19 January 2026 Loan 31 May 2026 20 Ryan Oné CF Coatbridge Sheffield United 28 January 2026 Loan 31 May 2026 34 Freddie Draper CF Oxford Derby County 1 July 2020 Free Transfer 30 June 2028 41 Daniel Vanderpuye CF Academy Out on loan 26 Oisin Gallagher CM Derry Derry City 1 July 2021 Undisclosed 30 June 2027 35 MJ Kamson-Kamara CB Farnborough Academy 23 February 2023 30 June 2026 36 Zane Okoro RW Norwalk Brooke House College 19 June 2025 30 June 2027 39 Charlie Parks CB Academy 13 May 2025 30 June 2027 40 Noah Simmons LB Academy 42 Charlie Carlisle CB Academy JJ McKiernan CM Southampton Morecambe 1 July 2024 Nominal Fee 30 June 2028
Coaching staff In June, chief scout Marc Tracy joined Luton Town in the same role and was replaced by Joe Hutchinson, who came in as the clubs head of talent identification from Grimsby Town. This was closely followed by assistant head coach Tom Shaw receiving his UEFA Pro Licence who also extended his contract in September until the summer of 2029. In July Bobby Copping joined as the clubs new head of commercial. Just before their pre-season friendly against Bromley, Lincoln confirmed that David Preece had returned as goalkeeping coach, with Scott Fry serving notice to join a Championship club. However, in October, Fry committed himself to Lincoln as their set-piece coach, by signing a new contract, but the following month the club accepted an offer that would see Fry join Scottish Premiership club Rangers. On 29 May, manager Michael Skubala left the club to join Bristol City with assistant head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw appointed joint head coaches.
RoleNameHead Coach Michael SkubalaAssistant Head Coach Chris CohenAssistant Head Coach Tom ShawGoalkeeping Coach David Preece
Pre-season and friendlies On 5 June, Lincoln City announced their first pre-season friendlies against West Bromwich Albion and Grimsby Town, on top of a week-long warm weather training camp in Portugal. On 13 June, a friendly against Bromley was included for part of their tour of Portugal. On 23 June, the players reported back for pre-season training.
Competitions League One
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On Wednesday, 26 June 2025, the EFL League One fixtures were revealed.
FA Cup
The first round draw was made on 13 October, where Lincoln City were drawn away to Salford City.
EFL Cup
On 26 June, the draw for the first round was made, with Lincoln City being drawn away against Harrogate Town. On 13 August, they were drawn away against either Tranmere Rovers or Burton Albion. On 19 August, Burton Albion would win their draw against Tranmere Rovers. The third round draw took place the following day and they were drawn against Chelsea.
EFL Trophy
The Imps were drawn into Group D of the Northern section alongside Barnsley, Notts County and Manchester United U21. On 13 November, they were drawn a home tie, for winning their group, against Huddersfield Town.
Transfers & contracts In DatePosPlayerFromFeeRef 1 July 2025 CB Sonny Bradley Derby County Free 7 July 2025 CB Ryley Towler Portsmouth Undisclosed 21 August 2025 DM Ivan Varfolomeev Slovan Liberec Undisclosed 26 August 2025 RW Oscar Thorn Colchester United Undisclosed 1 September 2025 LB Adam Reach Wycombe Wanderers Free 1 January 2026 LB Josh Honohan Shamrock Rovers Undisclosed 25 January 2026 CB Deji Elerewe Bromley Undisclosed
Out DatePosPlayerToFeeRef 26 June 2025 CB Zak Bradshaw Cambridge United Free 25 July 2025 CM Ethan Erhahon Bolton Wanderers Undisclosed 4 August 2025 CF Jovon Makama Norwich City Undisclosed 26 August 2025 CM Ethan Hamilton Dundee Undisclosed 2 February 2026 CB Lewis Montsma Dundee Undisclosed
Loaned in DatePosPlayerLoaned fromDate untilRef 18 August 2025 CF Francis Okoronkwo Everton 6 January 2026 1 September 2025 DM Finley Barbrook Ipswich Town 6 January 2026 1 September 2025 CF Justin Obikwu Coventry City 17 January 2026 1 September 2025 RB Dexter Lembikisa Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 January 2026 19 January 2026 CF Alfie Lloyd Queens Park Rangers End of season 28 January 2026 CF Ryan Oné Sheffield United End of season 2 February 2026 CM Kamil Conteh Bristol Rovers End of season
Loaned out DatePosPlayerLoaned toDate untilRef 23 June 2025 CM JJ McKiernan Burton Albion End of season 15 July 2025 CB Charlie Carlisle Lincoln United End of season 29 August 2025 CB MJ Kamson-Kamara Glentoran End of season 1 September 2025 RW Zane Okoro Coleraine End of season 5 September 2025 CF Daniel Vanderpuye Gainsborough Trinity Work experience 19 September 2025 CM Gbolahan Okewoye Billericay Town 18 October 2025 11 October 2025 GK Jamie Pardington AFC Telford United 18 October 2025 31 October 2025 CF Daniel Vanderpuye Lincoln United Work experience 15 November 2025 CM Oisin Gallagher Boston United End of season 22 November 2025 GK Jamie Pardington Oxford City 10 January 2026 25 November 2025 CB Charlie Parks Gainsborough Trinity 10 January 2026 19 December 2025 LB Noah Simmons Loughborough Students Work experience 19 December 2025 CF Daniel Vanderpuye Loughborough Students Work experience 15 February 2026 GK Jaden Taylor Pinchbeck United Work experience 24 March 2026 GK Jamie Pardington Kidderminster Harriers 30 March 2026 25 March 2026 GK Jaden Taylor Hucknall Town Work experience 26 March 2026 DF Orin Aldridge Pinchbeck United End of season
Released / Out of Contract DatePosPlayerSubsequent clubJoin dateRef30 June 2025 RB Jay Benn Hartlepool United 1 July 2025 CM Sam Clucas Shrewsbury Town 1 July 2025 CB Paudie O'Connor Reading 1 July 2025 LB Sean Roughan Huddersfield Town 1 July 2025 CM Alistair Smith AFC Wimbledon 1 July 2025 CF Tyler Walker Barrow 1 July 2025 CM Denny Oliver Sheffield Wednesday 2 July 2025 GK Isaac Allan Sunderland 19 July 2025 RB Kelly Fombad Melton Town 27 July 2025 RW Dakara Wifa Cobham 27 September 2025 RB Carter Ford Athletic Newham 1 November 2025 CB Resharne McLean USAO 14 February 2026 2 February 2026 CM Gbolahan Okewoye Cray Valley Paper Mills 13 March 2026 30 June 2025 GK Nicolae-Mario Vasiloiu
Contracts