Walsall Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of forward Devante Rodney who joins us from fellow Sky Bet League Two side Port Vale for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old joins the Saddlers having signed a two-and-a-half year contract and he becomes the Club’s fourth signing of the January transfer window following the permanent additions of Rollin Menayese and Donervon Daniels as well as the loan signing of Reece Devine.
During his 18 months with the Valiants, Rodney has featured 61 times in all competitions, scoring a total of 13 goals, including an impressive 12 during his first full season in the EFL.
On joining the Club, Rodney expressed his delight and admits that he can’t wait to try and excite the Saddlers faithful and get them off their seats.
“I am delighted to get it done and I am looking forward to being out there on the pitch and showing the fans what I can do,” he said.
“One of the reasons I have come here is because of the Clubs philosophy, I really believe that it is the right system for me so hopefully I can come here and score goals and have a positive impact on the team.
“I have spoken to the Head Coach about the plans that he has got going forward, I spoke to Jamie (Fullarton) and I have spoken to the owner.
“The philosophy of the Club is really good and I want to add to that. I really believe in what they say.
“I have worked under Jamie before and he knows what I can do on the pitch so I am really looking forward to getting started.
“The system that the team plays suits me.
“The ambition and the plan that the club have, I think I can be a big part of it over the next two years and hopefully help them achieve that.”
Rodney began his career with Hartlepool United where he made a total of 46 appearances, including four in League Two in the 2016/17.
After his contract expired with Hartlepool, he made the move to Salford City where he went on to make 21 appearances. Whilst at Salford, he had three separate loan spells with two different national league sides, which were Halifax Town and Stockport County respectively.
His first loan spell with Halifax Town came in the second half of the 2018/19 season where he featured 12 times, scoring an impressive seven goals and his second loan spell with them came in the following season where he featured a further eight times, netting five times.
Sandwiched in-between his loan spells with Halifax, he spent some time with Stockport where he featured 12 times, scoring on three occasions.
Following the addition of Rodney, Head Coach Taylor highlighted exactly what it is that he believes Rodney will bring to the squad and revealed that the everyone has worked extremely hard to bring him to the Club.
“I feel that he gives us an option that we didn’t have with his attributes and he’s hungry for success,” Taylor said.
“He’s the right age and I like what he does on a football pitch. We were alerted to his availability and obviously worked very hard to secure his signature.
“He will add goals and a real attacking intent.
"He’s a player that understands the game and level really well and I think that there’s an area on the pitch where we need to better and he most definitely gives us another option in that area.
“I think also that it’s important that we understand that he’s not the finished article and therefore it gives us huge opportunities for growth with Devante as well and I think that’s important to him as well because while we hope and know that he will be a success with us, ultimately we’re signing him and bringing him to the football club to give us a real goal threat and to give us a different option."
Rodney’s move to the Club is subject to EFL and FA approval.