Walsall land George Dobson on permanent deal

The 20-year-old midfielder has penned a two and a half year deal with the Saddlers after having his contract terminated by mutual consent by Sparta Rotterdam yesterday.

Dobson spent last season at the Banks's on loan from West Ham, making 26 appearances.

Sparta beat Walsall to Dobson's signature last summer but he has only featured five times for the Dutch top flight side.

Former Arsenal youth player Dobson said he was delighted to be back.

"When Jon (Whitney) got in contact and said he was interested in taking me back, I threw myself at the chance," he said.

“I loved my time at the club last year. I really felt like I kicked on as a player, particularly in the second half of the season.

“It was my first loan and at the start I found it tough, coming into first-team football and I probably wasn’t quite ready.

“But as the year went on, I felt like I really improved and offered quite a bit to the team.

“I’m physically better now and technically ready to come in and hopefully help the team.”

The deal is subject to international clearance but Dobson is likely to make his second Walsall debut against Oxford on January 13.

Whitney said both he and Walsall's players thought highly of Dobson.

“We put a year of work into him and he was showing really good promise and undoubted ability," he added.

“He really improved his fitness when he was here and we tried to get him on a permanent in the summer.

“I’ve kept in touch with George over the last four or five months and I’d like to thank the chairman and the board for providing additional funds to get George in.

“It’s a really good signing and it’s pleasing to get him in on a permanent basis.”