Leyton Orient land huge Premier League coup as Charlton lose talisman to Derby County

The January transfer window is hotting up in League One as the third tier's clubs begin to put pen to paper on deals for stars from across the leagues.

Last week, Oxford United turned heads for poaching Cheltenham Town star Will Goodwin and now it's Derby County who have snapped up a star from a rival in the league.

Here's your Tuesday transfer round-up from the division.

Leyton Orient complete deal with Premier League club for hotshot

Leyton Orient have completed their second signing of the January transfer window with a deal for highly-rated Fulham academy product Ollie O'Neill. The Os confirmed the deal with the Premier League outfit on Tuesday morning as the midfielder put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

O'Neill signed his first professional contract with the Cottagers in February 2020 and was named on the bench for the senior team's Carabao Cup meeting with Leeds United in September 2021. He never made an appearance for the first team but featured heavily in the under-18 and under-21 set-ups in West London.

The 21-year-old spent the back end of last season on loan at Derry City and had previously been named as Fulham's Scholar of the Year in 2021. He bagged seven goals and five assists in 12 appearances for the Fulham under-21 side last season.

The player featured for Fulham's youth side against Leyton Orient earlier this season and impressed head coach Richie Wellens, who has admitted the club has been 'aware' of the player 'for a while'.

On Joining Leyton Orient, O'Neill said: “I’m really excited to be starting the next chapter of my career at Leyton Orient, a club that feels like it has got real momentum behind it at the moment. I know that this is the right time for me to leave the nest of academy football. I had a good taste of senior football last season and now I’m ready to challenge myself in League One. I like to play wide, get on the ball, and create lots of chances for myself and my teammates.”

Derby County poach Charlton star as pressure mounts on Appleton

Derby County have completed the signing of Charlton Athletic talisman Corey Blackett-Taylor on a loan deal until the end of the season with the deal to be made permanent this summer.

The 26-year-old forward has eight goals in 25 League One appearances for the Addicks this season having joined the side as a free agent in 2021. Blackett-Taylor becomes the Rams' first addition in the January window with the club having already extended the stay of Arsenal striker Tyreece John-Jules as they look to secure an automatic promotion spot. The loan deal is not expected to prevent the player facing Charlton next month.

Speaking in his first interview at Derby County, the former Charlton man said: "It’s a massive club, everyone knows that. I’m happy to be on board. I believe in the project for the next 12 to 18 months and I feel like this will be a place where not only will I have a chance to play in a higher league but also develop as a player as well."

The loss of goals puts additional pressure on Charlton and under-fire boss Michael Appleton with the side winless since November. Charlton had been linked with Cheltenham Town striker Will Goodwin, who has since joined Oxford United, while Peterborough United star Jonson Clarke-Harris turned down an expected move to the club.