City boss Steven Pressley makes Mathieu Manset his first signing of the 2013/14 campaign
Coventry City have signed former Reading striker Mathieu Manset on a one-year deal, with an option for a further year.
The club have been given special dispensation by the Football League to draft in the 23-year-old who has also enjoyed spells at Carlisle, Hereford United, Shanghai Shenhua and Swiss side FC Sion.
The French striker has been on trial with the club for the past month and attended City's tour of Holland where he played in the 1-1 draw against Dutch top-flight side Heracles Almelo.
Manset will be available for selection for the Sky Blues’ League One match with Bristol City at Northampton’s Sixfields Stadium on Sunday, August 11th.
Sky Blues boss Steven Pressley said: "Mathieu is a player we have been looking at for a while and we have been delighted with the levels he has shown during pre-season with us.
"He is a very exciting player and the age of 23 he is a player that I believe is still to fulfill his huge potential. I believe at this club we will give him the opportunity to do so.
"I have been looking to bring in some competition and I will be looking for Mathieu to challenge Leon Clarke and Callum Wilson for a starting spot up front.
"It’s always a real boost to the squad when a new player joins the team."
Speaking about the club's ability to add to the squad while operating under the current transfer embargo, development director Steve Waggott added: “I’ve been working with the Football League to move things forward while issues around embargo and administration are resolved.
“We now have an arrangement in place where we can bring a player in under certain circumstances – depending on cost and on players moving out.
“Ultimately, the Football League are not going to allow us to go out and sign who we want, when we want until the embargo is lifted but this does at least give us some room for manoeuvre.”