[themaclad]

Walsall have signed forward Daniel Kanu on a season-long loan from Championship side Charlton Athletic.

Kanu, 20, came through the youth ranks at The Valley. He made his debut in February 2022, and has scored seven goals in 59 league appearances for the Addicks.

"I've been in contact with the gaffer here for most of pre-season," the Sierra Leone international told the Walsall website, external.

"Not only are they going to help me improve but they'll help me get games which is what I felt I needed."

The Saddlers, who lost in the League Two play-off final against AFC Wimbledon last season, sit 11th after four league games - with two wins and two defeats.

[themaclad]

Walsall have signed midfielders Jid Okeke and Rico Richards on season-long loans from Stockport County and Port Vale respectively.

German-born Okeke began his career at FC St Pauli's academy before joining Oldham Athletic's youth set-up and then moving on to Stockport in the summer of 2023.

The 20-year-old has made three appearances for the Hatters, all in the Carabao Cup, and had loan spells with National League North sides Chester, Hereford and South Shields before making eight appearances on loan at National League club Rochdale last season.

Richards, 21, came through both Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion's academy sides, before playing 32 times in all competitions during a loan spell at Vale Park last season

"Rico is very athletic, has good quality in the penalty area and he likes to create with his ability to dribble and drive past a player," head coach Mat Sadler told the club website., external

"He's a player who I've liked from his West Brom days and his Aston Villa days, he knows all about the club."

On Okeke, Sadler added:, external "Jid is a very attack-minded wing-back. He can play as left wing-back and a right wing-back, he likes to take his man on and likes to be aggressive in the final third."

[themaclad]

Walsall defender Harry Williams has signed a new two-year contract at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.

Williams, 23, joined the club from Alvechurch in 2023 and has made 56 appearances for the Saddlers.

Having played 40 games last season, Williams underwent successful Achilles surgery after suffering an injury in League Two play-off final defeat by AFC Wimbledon.

"It's been a difficult time for myself coming to terms with a such a big injury and the uncertainty that comes with it all but now it's finally sorted I'm delighted and can really focus on coming back stronger knowing I've got the backing from the club which I'm hugely thankful for," he told the club website.

"It's tough seeing the lads training and not being able to join in, but it gives me the extra motivation to work harder each day in the gym and I'm really looking forward to being back out on the pitch.

"I'm still a long way away but every day I'm getting closer – I'm three months post-surgery and making really good progress and working extremely hard on myself."