19-year-old Ethan Johnston came through the Northampton Town Football & Education Programme and their academy to earn a professional contract with the club in February 2020. A prolific goalscorer at youth level, he would make his first team debut for the club in a Carabao Cup game away to Bristol City in September 2020.

Last season saw Ethan gain experience of non-league football when joining our league rivals Redditch United on loan at the end of September, scoring one of their goals in a 4-1 home win over Biggleswade Town the following month. This was followed by a short loan spell with National League North side Kettering Town before Covid 19 drew the season to a premature close.

Ethan is looking forward to the new season, “I’m so excited to get back playing football week in week out again, and in front of fans. I just want to score goals and help the club get to where they want to be and I hope I can help them.”

United Manager Andy Whing commenting on the signing said, “‘Ethan is another great addition for us, we’ve been looking for another forward who can play in various positions. He’s really impressed us since coming in and we believe there’s a lot of improvement still to come from him. He’s another lad who’s very ambitious and eager to learn and improve, exactly what we want at this football club.”

Ethan was the “trialist” who scored the United goal against Oxford City yesterday evening.