'12 years at Southampton and versatile' Who is Walsall new boy Ryan Finnigan?

The midfielder has spent the past year working under Steve Bruce, who gave Walsall boss Mat Sadler his senior debut at Birmingham City in October 2002. 

His first 18 months at Blackpool have been plagued by injury, but Bruce hopes his loan spell at Bescot can help him recapture his exciting potential. 

"There's some very good signs for Ryan, but it's fair to say he has not had the rub of the screen," Bruce told Blackpool Gazette. 

"He's not had a big enough go at it, hence why we're sending him out on loan to do that." 

Southampton debut

Finnigan spent his formative years at Southampton and joined their prestigious academy aged nine in 2012. 

He rocketed through the ranks alongside Tyler Dibling and played a key part in helping the Under-18s lift the Premier League South title in 2021-22. 

His exploits at youth level caught the eye at first team level and Finnigan made his senior debut as a late substitute during Saints' 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup in 2021.

"Ryan has been through our pathway from a very early age and is a fine prodigy of our Southampton Way," ex-Southampton academy chief Matt Hale said in 2020. 

"He is not only an excellent player with high potential but emulates our club ethos and values and plays with a maturity well above his years." 

Finnigan never played a single minute in the Premier League, but he did gain plenty of experience in the first team set-up under Ralph Hasenhuttl and later Nathan Jones. 

Learning from Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse

He also had plenty of examples to aspire to, including most notably, former Barcelona midfielder Oriol Romeu and club legend James Ward-Prowse. 

"We have had chats and they're nice chats," Romeu told Hampshire Live in 2021. 

"I have been very transparent and honest with him, and I have told him that if he wants to play, if he wants to take my place or [James] Ward-Prowse's place, then it isn't going to be easy. 

"So I told him we will be doing extra hours to keep ourselves fit. He has to be there and that will make us all better. He has to work harder than us, run better than us, or he will not be playing." 

Injury issues

In 2022-23, Finnigan headed on loan to Crewe Alexandra in League Two, and battled through injury to score once in 16 appearances. 

A step-up to League One with Shrewsbury Town followed but his loan spell was cut short due to a serious ankle injury which he suffered in training. 

Nevertheless, Finnigan has played in every position across the midfield, and finally launched his career away from St Mary's with Blackpool in 2024. 

His injury issues have still proven problematic, although he did score in a 4-1 win over Bristol Rovers upon his return on the final day of last season. 

How will he fit in at Walsall?

Finnigan has been handed a pair of cameos from the bench in League One this term and will offer versatility across the midfield in the Saddlers' squad. 

Lewis Warrington is clearly more suited as a defensive midfielder and Jake Hollman looks set to play further forward in one of the two 'eight roles'. 

But Finnigan will be fighting to fit into any of those roles, and fitness permitting, should be a really useful addition to the midfield.