Walsall Football Club are pleased to announce that goalkeeper Jackson Smith has returned to the Poundland Bescot Stadium on a one-year contract following the conclusion of a transfer agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 21-year-old enjoyed a six-month loan spell with the Saddlers in the second half of the 2022/23 season where he provided strong competition to Owen Evans and impressed in appearances against Crawley Town and Doncaster Rovers.
Smith progressed through the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Academy having joined at the age of eight and was a regular in both their Under 18 and Under 23 sides.
In the summer of 2022, he joined Wolves’ first team on their pre-season tour of Spain and Portugal and played against Levante, Farense and Besiktas – and kept a clean sheet against the Turkish giants.
His other previous experience of men’s football came during loan spells in non-league at Frickley Athletic and Kettering Town, where he kept 12 clean sheets in 31 matches.
Smith is delighted to be back at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
“I’m buzzing to get the deal done,” Smith said.
“The minute the gaffer and I had a chat and I found out I could come back here; it was something I couldn’t really say no to.
“We gelled so well last year which played a key part in me coming back. I’d like to think I pushed Owen last year and together, myself, Owen and Dan Watson went from strength to strength throughout the year.
“I said when I left that I feel like I left a better goalkeeper so hopefully I can continue that again this year and get better throughout the season.”
Head Coach Mat Sadler is happy that Smith has returned on a permanent contract and is looking forward to working with him again.
“I’m exceptionally pleased to have Jackson at the club on a permanent basis,” he said.
“He was fantastic for us last season and that department can now push each other with Owen and Jackson being our two goalkeepers.
“I’ve waited all summer to get Jackson done and had some guys that have helped along the way and had some trialists in games but it was always with the intention of it working out with Jackson.
“He’s a fantastic lad, a really good guy and throughout all of pre-season, we want to make sure that we have players in the building who are desperate to improve, desperate to get better and keep moving the football club forwards and Jackson fits that mould.
“I’m really chuffed we’ve got it done and Jackson comes in with a real spring in his step and I’m sure the lads will be really pleased to see him.”