Walsall FC are delighted to announce that midfielder Liam Kinsella has put pen to paper on a new contract.
The 23-year-old was one of the Saddlers’ standout performers last term, making 39 appearances in all competitions and winning the 2018/19 Young Player of the Season award.
He also won Goal of the Season for his FA Cup winner at Sunderland and Community Player of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the local area.
“I’m delighted to get it over the line and I can’t wait to get going again,” said Kinsella.
“It’s a really good feeling knowing the manager wants you. He called me up a few days after he took the job and we had a really good chat. Once I had finished the phone call, I knew I wanted to sign.
“When you’re a young kid and you’re coming into the club’s academy, it’s your dream to play for the first team.
“I am continuing that dream and, over the next two years, hopefully I can continue to rack up more appearances and fingers crossed I can surpass the 100 mark this season.
“The aim has to be to bounce back immediately and hopefully we will be able to do that this season with the new manager.”
Boss Darrell Clarke added: “I’ve watched a lot of the games and he’s impressed me with his energy.
“He’s got plenty of games under his belt and we’ll be looking for him to step up to the plate even more so this season.
“He’s hungry and that’s what we want at the football club – hungry players that want to move the club forward.”
Colchester-born Kinsella first joined the Saddlers aged eight and was named Apprentice of the Season in 2013/14.
He made his first-team debut in a goalless draw with Bradford in August 2014 and scored his first career goal in a 2-0 victory over Burton the following October.
Capped by Republic of Ireland at U19 and U21 level, he helped our Development Squad win the Central League North West Division title and Walsall Senior Cup in 2016/17.
The tenacious midfielder made 24 appearances the following season and featured regularly in 2018/19, taking his current Saddlers appearance tally up to 89.