Forest Green have completed the signing of defender Kelvin Abrefa on a three-month loan from Reading. The 22-year-old full-back arrives to bolster a squad currently positioned 13th in the National League with nine points from six matches.
Robbie Savage, the Forest Green manager, confirmed the move this week. He told reporters, "It's a position we've needed cover in for a while, so he now gives us good options to choose from in the squad." Abrefa's loan runs until December, providing immediate reinforcement for a team that has conceded ten goals in its opening six league games.
Kelvin Abrefa is a 22-year-old defender who has spent his senior career at Reading. He has made 83 appearances for the Royals, gaining significant experience despite his age. Last season, he featured in 22 League One matches for Reading. His arrival at Forest Green adds a player familiar with the demands of professional football week in, week out.
Manager Robbie Savage was explicit about the need for defensive cover, and Abrefa is expected to compete for a starting role immediately. Forest Green's current form shows three wins and three losses, indicating a need for greater consistency, particularly at the back where they have a -3 goal difference. Abrefa's primary position is at full-back, an area where depth is valuable across a long season. Fans can see how he integrates with the existing group by checking the updated squad list.
The signing comes at a key moment in the early season. Forest Green sit 13th with a record of three wins and three defeats. They have scored seven goals but let in ten. The team is seven points behind early leaders Boreham Wood, making every point valuable as they look to close the gap. The full standings show the competitive nature of the National League this season.
With the loan set to expire in December, Abrefa is available for an important block of National League fixtures. His experience from 83 Reading appearances will be tested quickly as Forest Green seeks to improve on its recent form sequence of win, loss, loss, loss, win. The immediate focus turns to implementing the new defensive option into the team structure. Supporters can follow the team's progress through the upcoming fixtures.
The deal for Kelvin Abrefa represents a targeted move to address a specific need identified by the management, with the player's contract at The New Lawn running until the middle of December.
