Leyton Orient have completed two significant pieces of business on deadline day, signing Sweden goalkeeper Oliver Dovin on a season-long loan from Coventry City and striker Dane Scarlett on a permanent basis from Tottenham Hotspur, according to a BBC Sport report.
Dovin fills the gloves at Brisbane Road
Dovin, 24, arrives in east London as cover and competition between the sticks after a difficult spell at Coventry. The Swedish stopper was brought to the Sky Blues by then-manager Mark Robins in August 2024, signing from Swedish outfit Hammarby, and made 30 first-team appearances in his debut season at that level. He held his place when Frank Lampard succeeded Robins in the dugout, but a knee injury sustained in March 2025 ended his campaign prematurely.
The report notes that Dovin has not featured in Coventry's first team since that point, with Carl Rushworth and Ben Wilson now ahead of him in the pecking order at his parent club. The loan to Orient therefore offers him a route back to regular football, and Orient a proven third-tier-level option in goal.
Scarlett commits long-term to the O's
The second piece of business is understood to be the more eye-catching of the two. Scarlett, 22, has joined Orient for an undisclosed fee and has put pen to paper on what the club describe as a "long-term" contract, according to the BBC report. The striker arrives from Tottenham Hotspur, where he came through the academy system, giving Orient a young forward with top-flight development behind him.
Neither the precise length of Scarlett's contract nor the transfer fee has been disclosed publicly at this stage. The structure of any sell-on clause or performance-related elements has not been reported.
Arrivals timed to perfection
The timing of both signings is notable. Orient currently sit sixth in League One following a commanding 5-0 victory at promoted Bromley on Tuesday, a result that underlines the ambition running through the club. Securing a season-long goalkeeper and a long-term attacking option before the window closed suggests the coaching staff are intent on sustaining a promotion challenge as the campaign develops.
Dovin's loan deal, covering the entirety of the current season, gives Orient stability and depth behind their first-choice stopper. A goalkeeper of his experience, who has played regularly at this level, will be a useful presence in training and a ready-made deputy should injury or loss of form strike.
Scarlett, meanwhile, arrives as a forward whose profile fits the kind of energetic, mobile attacking play that League One demands. At 22, he represents both an immediate option and a genuine asset with significant resale potential should his form warrant it, which is precisely the type of business that third-tier clubs can build sustained momentum around.
What it means for Orient's season
Orient's position in the top six, combined with their goal difference following the Bromley thrashing, puts them firmly in the promotion conversation at this early stage. The additions of Dovin and Scarlett address two positions on the pitch and, perhaps more importantly, send a message about the club's intentions for the months ahead.
Should the permanent nature of the Scarlett deal prove to have been agreed at a competitive fee, it would represent shrewd business from a League One club that has shown it can attract players with higher-division pedigree. The O's faithful will be hoping both arrivals are in contention to feature at the earliest opportunity.
Frequently asked
- Who is Oliver Dovin and where has he come from?
- Oliver Dovin is a 24-year-old Swedish goalkeeper who has joined Leyton Orient on a season-long loan from Coventry City. He signed for Coventry from Swedish club Hammarby in August 2024 and made 30 appearances for them before a knee injury in March 2025 ended his debut season early.
- How much did Leyton Orient pay for Dane Scarlett?
- According to BBC Sport, the fee for Dane Scarlett has not been disclosed. Orient confirmed he has signed a long-term contract, but the precise length and any financial details have not been made public.
- Where are Leyton Orient in League One after these signings?
- Orient are sixth in League One following a 5-0 win at Bromley on Tuesday, putting them firmly inside the play-off places at this stage of the season.