Walsall sign AFC Bournemouth striker Jonny Stuttle on season-long loan

The 19-year-old scored 10 goals in 19 appearances during his loan spell at National League South side Farnborough in the second half of the 2024-25 season.

Prior to his loan at Farnborough, Stuttle had a brief stint in the National League with Aldershot, where he starred eight times in all competitions, scoring twice in the FA Trophy for the Shots. 

Stuttle, who joined Bournemouth aged 11, scored a remarkable 42 goals in 35 matches for the under-16s which earned him a scholarship and helped the Cherries win the EFL Youth Alliance in his first year. 

He also scored a hat-trick against Newcastle United in a 5-0 victory at St James' Park and helped lead Wimbourne to the Southern League Division One South title during his first loan stint.

“It’s a massive club and it seemed like the right move for me and the next step in my development so I am really happy to be here," Stuttle said.

“I had a bit of a tricky loan with Aldershot, but then I moved back to Farnborough, which was probably the right decision at the time just to get some game time, somewhere that I knew I was going to play and get the minutes that I needed because at such a young age, that’s what you want.

“It went really well at Farnborough, I really enjoyed my time there and it has put me in good stead for this season and the future ahead but I am really looking forward to my time here.

“I am hard working, I am probably an old school number nine where I like to get into physical battles with defenders and just generally put myself about and ultimately score goals at the end of it.”

Stuttle becomes the Saddlers' six signing of the summer transfer window following the arrivals of Mason Hancock, Courtney Clarke, Harrison Burke, Vincent Harper and Aaron Pressley.

Boss Mat Sadler added: “He’s come in right at the start of pre-season which we think is really important because it allows us to understand him a bit more and for him to understand what we want from him.

“He's a well-rounded forward who will add something different to our attacking options that we already have at the football club and we're pleased to once again have been trusted with thedevelopment of another young forward.

“He had a really positive loan spell last season at Farnborough in the second half of the season so now it's about how we can aid him in the next part of his professional development.

“We ended up beating off a lot of competition to secure the signing of Jonny for the season and we feel that with our record of improving, nurturing and looking after young players, that put us at the front of the queue and once again we'd like to thank Bournemouth for trusting us with this next step in his development.”