Kirsten Otchere says the chance to play regular first-team football was central to his decision to join Cheltenham Town from Leicester City on a season-long loan for the 2026/27 campaign.
The 19-year-old forward completed his move to the English League Two club after making a strong impression during pre-season with Leicester City. Otchere scored three goals and registered two assists in four matches for his parent club before agreeing to spend the campaign with Cheltenham Town.
Otchere, who was born in England and has Ghanaian parentage, believes the move provides the right setting for him to continue his development while taking an important step into senior football.
“Getting the experience to come and play first team football, that’s something that I really wanted to do so I’m happy at Cheltenham,” Otchere said.
His loan represents the next stage of a summer in which he established himself as an effective attacking option during Leicester City’s preparations. The forward will now aim to carry that form into competitive football and make an immediate contribution for Cheltenham Town.
Regular senior appearances were a decisive factor in Otchere’s thinking. Rather than continuing his development solely through Leicester City’s pre-season programme, he has chosen a season-long opportunity with a club where he expects to play a more prominent role.
The forward said conversations with Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill also helped persuade him that the club was the right destination. Those discussions gave Otchere a clearer understanding of the manager’s plans for him and the environment he would be joining.
“I’ve been talking to the manager and, you know, seen the project that he has for me, I think it really suits me. He told me the team is a bunch of good lads so I think, yeah, it’s the right place for me,” he added.
Otchere’s arrival gives him the opportunity to build on a productive pre-season while adapting to the demands of a full campaign in League Two. The move will also allow him to gain experience of first-team football, something he has identified as a long-standing ambition.
He is now preparing for his first full season of senior football, with Cheltenham Town his next step after impressing in Leicester City colours during the summer. His immediate objective will be to turn that promising pre-season return into performances and goals for his loan club throughout the 2026/27 campaign.
