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League Two side Walsall have signed goalkeeper Sam Hornby on a one-year contract following a successful trial period.

The 29-year-old had spent last season at Colchester United, but after losing the number one spot to Owen Goodman, Hornby was released by the U's in June.

Hornby told the Saddlers' club website, external that he was "delighted" to be joining.

The former Port Vale and Bradford City stopper is the second goalkeeper Walsall have signed following the arrival of Tommy Simkin on a season-long loan from Stoke City.

"It’s one we’ve been really careful about who we put alongside Tommy (Simkin) and Sam is the perfect one," head coach Mat Sadler told the club website.

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Defender Taylor Allen has signed a new deal at Walsall, extending his stay at the West Midlands club until 2026.

Allen joined his boyhood club two years ago on a free transfer from Forest Green Rovers and his contract was set to run out next summer.

The 24-year-old, who can play at left-back or in central defence, has penned a one-year extension at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

“I'm buzzing to sign an extension," Allen told the official club website, external.

"Having that run of games last year towards the end of the season really helped me as different challenges came up and you learn how to deal with those challenges.

"This year is a different challenge for me and I'm hoping that I can go one better from what I did last year."

The Saddlers begin their 2024-25 League Two campaign on Saturday at home to Morecambe.

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Walsall have signed West Bromwich Albion forward Reyes Cleary on loan for the rest of the season.

The 20-year-old is the eighth summer signing by the Saddlers, who have won both League Two games so far, beating Morecambe and Swindon without conceding a goal.

Cleary has made seven senior appearances for the Baggies and signed a new one-year contract last month, with an option for a further 12 months.

"He’s a very good finisher, very direct, wants to get at people and he gives us a different attacking outlet which is what I talk about all the time, having different weapons in the game to be able to beat teams in different ways and he does that," said head coach Mat Sadler.

Cleary scored 19 goals for West Brom's Under-21 side during the 2022-23 season.

He said: "It’s good to play Premier League 2 but I need to start doing it against men in the real life of football because that’s the only way I’m going to get better."

Walsall are next in action on Saturday with an away game against Tranmere Rovers.

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Walsall have signed England Under-19 international forward Nathan Lowe on a season-long loan deal from Stoke City.

The 18-year-old has come through the Championship side's academy and has played 17 times for the club in all competitions.

His first goal in senior football was a late winner for the Potters in their league victory at Bristol City last season.

Lowe has three caps for England's Under-19 side, having made his international debut last October.

“I’m buzzing to be here,” Lowe told the League Two club's website., external

“I want to experience proper men’s football and hopefully I can develop, score a lot of goals and help the club.

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Walsall have signed defender Rico Browne after he impressed during a trial with the League Two club.

The 20-year-old joins the Saddlers after a compensation package was agreed with Birmingham City, where his contract recently expired.

He has agreed a one-year deal with the option of an additional year.

As Brown is under 23 and was offered a new contract by Birmingham, external, having come through their youth system, he was unable to move on a free transfer.

In such cases, a compensation fee is set by a tribunal unless the two clubs reach an agreement.

“I’m delighted to be here,” Browne told Walsall's website., external

“The plans the head coach has for the rest of the season suited what I’ve been looking for and I’ve felt really comfortable since I came in."

Browne, who did not make a first-team appearance for Birmingham, was on loan at National League North side Rushall Olympic last season.

Walsall head coach Mat Sadler said: “With the injuries that we had, it’s a really good opportunity for an extra player to be with us and somebody who we think can improve with us.

“I didn’t just want to bring anybody in, I wanted to bring somebody in who’s got a real chance of getting better, improving and will work extremely hard, so I’m delighted to bring Rico in and we look forward to working together.”

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League Two leaders Walsall have signed teenage Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley on loan for the rest of the season.

The 19-year-old has made four senior appearances for United and won the under-18s Premier League Cup in 2024.

"It is my first loan so I am very excited to get going," Wheatley told the club website., external

"I had interest from other places but they didn't have as many games left in the season and a big thing for me is earning game time and trying to play as much as possible in the men's game, hopefully I can do that and stamp my mark."

For the under-18s he scored 12 goals in 16 league appearances last season and this campaign has six goals in nine Premier League Two outings.

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Runaway League Two leaders Walsall have made their fourth January transfer window signing by bringing in Bromley striker Levi Amantchi on an 18-month contract.

The 24-year-old target man has scored three goals for Bromley this season - all of them in cup competitions.

Amantchi follows the Saddlers' signings of Charlton midfielder Nathan Asiimwe, Drogheda defender Elicha Ahui, who was loaned straight back to the League of Ireland club, and on-loan Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley.

But they did lose top scorer Nathan Lowe, the EFL's joint leading marksman, who was recalled by parent club Stoke City.

Walsall are 11 points clear on top of the table, despite having lost their last two games going into Saturday's home game against play-off chasing Salford.

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League Two leaders Walsall have made three deadline-day signings, bringing in MK Dons striker Ellis Harrison and midfielders Alfie Chang from Birmingham City and Darius Lipsiuc from Stoke City, all three on loan for the rest of the season.

Chang, 22, has made 21 appearances for Blues, but suffered a serious knee injury in 2023 and has only played once this season, as a substitute in their 2-1 FA Cup win over Lincoln City in January.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Lipsiuc, 19, who began his career at his local club St Mochta's before moving to St Patrick's in the summer of 2021, made his debut for Stoke as a late substitute in the Carabao Cup against Fleetwood Town in September.

Harrison, 31, has scored five times for MK this season, the last of them in November - his 100th career goal, having also netted for Bristol Rovers, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Fleetwood and Walsall's League Two promotion rivals Port Vale.

His late arrival, just before the official 23:00 GMT deadline, takes Saddlers boss Mat Sadler's total of signings in this window to seven, of which Harrison is the third striker to arrive.

Walsall, who lost top scorer Nathan Lowe back to parent club Stoke City in early January, have also brought in Manchester United youngster Ethan Wheatley and big Bromley target man Levi Amantchi.

"Ellis is a fantastic athlete," said Sadler. "He's got a real hunger to score goals, as he has done throughout his career. He is one we have been working away on for a good period of time now and one we have had to be patient with.

"Alfie had a fantastic start to his career at Birmingham, played lots of games in the Championship for them a couple of years ago. He's a very tidy football player and brings quality in forward areas.

"Darius is an all-action, powerful midfield player. He wants to run, wants to work hard. We had Darius in for a few days a couple of weeks ago so I got to see him first hand."

All three are in contention to make their debut for Walsall in Saturday's game at Colchester. The Saddlers are seven points clear at the top despite taking only one point from their past three games.

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Walsall defensive midfielder Oisin McEntee has agreed to join Scottish Premiership side Hearts on a three-year deal.

Republic of Ireland under-21 international McEntee, 24, has made 79 appearances for the Saddlers across three seasons since joining from Newcastle United in 2022.

He was part of a Walsall side that led League Two for much of the past season but dropped off in the run-in and ended up losing the play-off final to AFC Wimbledon.

McEntee, who played in the Scottish Championship with Morton in 2021-22 during a loan spell from Newcastle, will join the Tynecastle side on a free transfer when his Walsall deal expires this summer.

"It became clear in our conversations Oisin is hungry, he wants to learn and improve, and be part of what we're trying to do here at Hearts," said new Hearts boss Derek McInnes.

"He's played in defence and midfield, so to have options around his positioning is a big plus. Oisin's gained a lot of experience down south and he has knowledge of Scottish football too, which is a bonus."

McEntee is McInnes' third signing following the acquisition of Belgian forward Elton Kabangu and Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis.

Saddlers release four, in talks with nine
McEntee is among a number of out-of-contract players at Walsall, with the club in talks with nine others to extend their stays after the disappointing end to their season.

The Saddlers are in discussions with goalkeeper Sam Hornby, defenders Liam Gordon, Harry Williams and Priestley Farquharson, midfielders Ryan Stirk and Ronan Maher and forwards Albert Adomah, Jamille Matt and Douglas James-Taylor.

They have released four players - goalkeeper George Barrett, defender Donervon Daniels, midfielder Jack Earing and striker Danny Johnson - but have exercised options to extend the contracts of defenders Rico Browne and Evan Weir.

Another eight first-team regulars - Connor Barrett, Jamie Jellis, Josh Gordon, Charlie Lakin, Brandon Comley, Levi Amantchi, Taylor Allen and David Okagbue - remain under contract at the Bescot Stadium.

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Walsall have signed Courtney Clarke from Eastbourne Borough after the wing-back turned down the offer of a new deal with the non-league club.

The 22-year-old moves to the League Two side on a two-year contract after the Saddlers agreed an undisclosed compensation package.

Clarke, who had a spell on the books at Derby County as a teenager, won Eastbourne's young player of the year award in his only season with the National League South side.

He is the first signing made by Walsall since they were consigned to another campaign in League Two after losing the play-off final against AFC Wimbledon last month.

"He had a fantastic season at Eastbourne and started to grab the attention of people looking in that direction," Walsall head coach Mat Sadler told the club website., external

"He fits the mould of exactly the type of player we bring to the club – young, hungry and wanting to get better.