Bromley’s new signing, Jesse Debrah is targeting a second promotion following his loan move from Port Vale.
Debrah is Bromley’s third signing of the January transfer window and his arrival at the League Two leaders comes less than a year after he got promoted from the fourth tier with Port Vale at the end of last season.
The 25-year-old Croydon-born defender in his first interview with the club’s YouTube channel reflected on his promotion success with the Valiants and why he wants to try and repeat that success with Bromley.
“Yeah, it was amazing to get promoted out of this division with Port Vale. Um, so when I saw the project and the direction Bromley are heading in, I think I was thinking, yeah that’s something I want to be a part of again and probably use my experiences of last year to help the group get over the line as well.
“Um, I’m just here to help where I can and um, yeah, achieve success with this club.”
He also admitted that whilst game time is naturally a big aim for him, promotion would mean more given that it’s his local club just 15 minutes from his home.
“100%. Like. I’m a footballer first and foremost. So you want to play, you want to keep your shirt, play well, you want to win games of football. But yeah ultimately, make no mistake. I want to come here and get promoted with Bromley – Bromley’s my local team and it would be very special to me and to the club. I want to continue the good work that has been done, and I feel like together we can achieve that.”
Debrah previously trained with the Ravens under manager, Andy Woodman in summer 2023 after he left Halifax following a two-season spell with the Yorkshire club, and is happy to be back in familiar surroundings where he knows members of that 2023-24 promotion-winning squad including; Michael Cheek and Omar Sowunmi.
“Yeah I know the gaffer here. Um he welcomed me here after I left Halifax to train and do my rehabilitation here which I’m so grateful for him for and yeah it’s always been like a good feeling around the place and welcoming and yeah I’m just glad to be on board now.
“I know a couple of the players, uh I knew Tommo and Webber at my time at Millwall and obviously at my time doing rehab Cheeky, Omar just to name a few so um yeah settled in really well.
He also noted that the familiarity helped him settle in quickly once he completed his medical and dived straight into first-team training, ahead of the trip to Gillingham tomorrow (31 January).
“As I said, um it’s good to have the connections I do know, it makes it easier to settle in. And yeah I’m just looking forward to working with you guys.”
Debrah also reflected on the club’s progress since his rehabilitation period two-and-a-half years ago, as he quipped that he thought that he had driven to the wrong place upon arrival but was in awe of the progress done and can’t wait to be part of the Ravens’ promotion push.
“Unbelievable, unbelievable. Um it was during my rehab I drove in and I was thinking like, have I got the right place? Like this is not what I remember. And it’s the facilities, everything. It’s Unbelievable.
“So, credit to everyone here involved. Um and I’m just so ready to get part of it. And, um obviously you guys have started doing something special this year and I want to get a part of that and get over the line.”
Debrah will be in the squad for the game at Gillingham after just one training session which he relished despite drawing comparison to the first day of school in terms of nerves at the move.
“Yeah. You know um before coming in on the drive here you know that first day of school, a bit of nerves, bit of ok I need to meet new people but um the transition’s been smooth. As I said, credit to you guys for making that possible.
“Credit to the manager and the players. Um and yeah, straight on the training pitch trying to do what I think I know best and um yeah, good to get cracking.”
Debrah finally teased that fans can expect him to do a lot of defending but he still wants to make an impact within the oppositional box.
“Uh, wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m a defender first. I take pride in defending. Um, I don’t get bored of the basics. I want to defend. I want to keep clean sheets and um going up the other end. I want to chip in with a few goals, assists, cause chaos in their box and keep the chaos out of our box and go from there.”
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