Walsall sign former loanee Jackson Smith from Wolves

Smith returns to Bescot on a permanent basis after penning a one-year deal.

The 21-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with the Saddlers – registering two appearances in total.

He served as understudy to Owen Evans, but was handed his debut by Mat Sadler as a half-time substitute in a goalless draw at Crawley in April.

The young goalkeeper filled the void once again for the injured Evans when he made his first professional start in the final day victory over Doncaster Rovers.

“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," Smith said. “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.”

Smith previously had loan spells at Frickley Athletic and Kettering Town.

And head coach Sadler 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.”

Smith joined the Wolves academy at the age of eight and went on to feature regularly for the under-18s and under-23s.

He later starred for the first team on their pre-season tour of Spain and Portugal in 2022, and played against Levante, Besiktas and Farense.

Pathways manager, Steve Davis said: “It’s an important time for Jackson at the age of 21.

“He needs to be challenging himself and playing regularly in first-team football. Hopefully Walsall can give him the opportunity to go and do that.

“He needs to start testing himself at first-team level and learning what it’s like to be around that environment. I think the loan he had last season at Walsall certainly would’ve helped him and gave him an introduction to what it’s like at that level.

“Jackson’s a big character and very confident, so I think that will hold him in good stead going forward. At 21, he’s still young and finding out what he’s about.”

Davis also hailed Wolves' relationship with the Saddlers.

“We’ve always had good relationships with local clubs – Walsall being one of those," he said. "We wish Jackson well and we want him to do well locally, being a local boy.

“The mixture of loans and experience training with our first-team has definitely helped him to learn about what it’s like at the very top level and training with top keepers. Like with Louie (Moulden), it’s important to have a variety of experiences and I think Jacko’s had that, which will set him up nicely for his career going forwards.

“We all wish him well at the football club and we all want him to do well. He’s been a really good servant to us and hopefully he’s had lots of good experiences along the way.”