Latics swoop for experienced Caprice

Latics have snapped up experienced full-back Jake Caprice.

The 31-year-old joins the club with plenty of Football League experience, including at the likes of Tranmere Rovers, Leyton Orient, Exeter City and most recently Burton Albion.

A player who is well known to manager Micky Mellon after playing under him at Tranmere Rovers in the team that gained promotion to League One.

On joining Latics, Caprice said: “I can’t wait to get going, this is a really exciting place to play my football.

“I’ve worked with the manager before and know some of the boys really well.

"Talks have been ongoing for a while, but I just had to make sure this decision was right for me and my family.

“Micky knows me as a player and a person and he’s a manager who can get the best out of me.

"He’ll allow me to enjoy my football as well aschallenging me which will hopefully lead to success for this club.”

Caprice came through the academy at Crystal Palace progressing through the youth system at the club.

After eight years at the South London club, he joined Championship side Blackpool where he went out on loan three times in his two year span on the coast.

Dagenham & Redbridge, St Mirren and Tamworth is where he gained his first tastes of professional football.

Over the next four seasons Jake spent time at Lincoln, Woking and Leyton Orient before joining up with Mellon’s Tranmere in 2018, supplying the assist in the play-off final to earn Tranmere back-to-back promotions.

His most notable spell came with Exeter City, making 123 appearances for the Grecians earning another promotion to his CV as he helped the club gain promotion to League One in the 2021/22 season.

“I’m really pleased, I think something we lacked last season was pace in wide areas,” boss Mellon said.

“Jake’s more of an offensive wing back and he can play on the left as well, he’s very versatile and most importantly he has a winning mentality.

“He bolsters up our squad and gives competition for places.

"We’ve chased him for pretty much all summer, and we’re delighted to get it over the line.

“Jake will fit into the culture we’ve created here at Oldham very well, he’s a good guy and a player that fans should be excited for.”

Latics' 2024/25 National League campaign gets under way on Saturday with a home game against Braintree Town.

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