Merritt joins Newport on loan from Bournemouth
- Published
Newport County have signed left-back Alfie Merritt on a season-long loan from Bournemouth.
The 18-year-old featured on trial for the Exiles in pre-season and started in Tuesday's 4-1 friendly defeat by Italian giants Roma at Rodney Parade.
Merritt signed his first professional contract with the Cherries last summer and got a taste of senior football when making 13 appearances for Totton in Southern League Premier South last season.
The teenager will now spend the 2026-27 campaign with County in League Two, competing with Tom Davies for the start at left-back.
Merritt could make his debut against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup on Saturday, 8 August (15:00 BST).
Merritt is the first signing made since the appointment of Hayden Mullins as manager and the ninth in total.
Six players were signed while Christian Fuchs was in the hotseat - Harrison Biggins, Christian Doidge, Cameron Norman, Dan Sassi, Shaquille Gwengwe and Yahya Bamba - and Kyle Cameron and Kieron Evans joined after the Austrian's shock departure.
