Walsall Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Ryan Stirk on a two-year contract.
The 22-year-old will officially join on July 1st upon the expiry of his contract at Championship club Birmingham City.
The diminutive midfielder has gained valuable experience in the National League and Sky Bet League Two over the last two campaigns while out on loan.
He had a positive impact during a spell with Bromley during the second half of last season. He received their Player of the Month award twice during his stint as he helped them reach the play-off semi-final, narrowly missing out on a place in the final after an extra time defeat to Chesterfield.
In the 2021-22 season, Stirk enjoyed a loan spell in League Two with Mansfield Town.
He netted twice in 36 matches for the Stags as he was once again involved in a campaign that culminated in the play-offs.
Stirk has also played in the Championship for Blues during his time at St Andrews and he has seven caps for Wales Under 21s to his name.
He is now looking forward to his new chapter with the Saddlers.
“I’m delighted to get it done,” Stirk said.
“I’ve known for a few weeks that Walsall have been interested. It’s local to me, I’ve got a young family and it’s a move that I wanted to get done as soon as I heard about it.
“I’ve worked with the gaffer before when I was a bit younger at Birmingham when he took a few sessions there so I know him, I spoke to him and he sold it to me.
“It’s a great club and I’m looking forward to get going and working with him.”
Head Coach Mat Sadler is pleased with his first summer addition.
“I’m really pleased to get Ryan over the line,” said Sadler.
“He’s someone that I’ve known for quite a considerable time through my connections at Birmingham.
“He was somebody in previous times that I would have liked to have brought to the football club but I’m really chuffed it’s come together for me to get him now.
“Ryan is the type of player who wants to pass forward, play through the lines, he wants to receive the football and he wants to get on the ball.
“He’s also a tenacious dog in the way that he works in trying to recover the ball and receive the ball back.
“He adds a little bit of something different with that left foot and balance in the midfield area to compliment what we already have in the building and I want to reiterate – we’re really pleased with what we currently have in the building.
“We are over the line or close on a number of other targets and we are pleased with the overall progress.”
The transfer is subject to EFL clearance.