Walsall complete the signing of Australian midfielder Jake Hollman
Walsall have completed the signing of midfielder Jake Hollman from Australian A-League side Macarthur FC on a free transfer.
The 23-year-old, who has been capped by Australia at under-23 level, has penned a two-year deal with the option of a further year.
Hollman's departed Macarthur after scoring 16 goals and setting up nine more in 111 appearances, including six goals and two assists last term.
He helped Macarthur lift the Australia Cup twice in 2022 and 2024 respectively, and has also featured six times in the AFC Cup.
"It's a privilege and an honour to be here and I can't wait for the season to start," Hollman said.
"English football was always the pinnacle for me as an Australian. It's the hub of football and I can't wait to start playing.
"I'm a box-to-box midfielder, more of an eight who likes to get forward with late runs into the box, but I also like to help out with build-up or breaking play down.
"I feel like I'm now ready for my next adventure and that's here at Walsall."
This is the first time Walsall have made a signing from outside the UK and Ireland under Sadler's watch, but the Saddlers boss feels his latest recruit will be worth the wait.
"He's had a fantastic season in the A-League in Australia and it's the first time we've done a transfer like this and we had to jump through a lot of hoops," Sadler added.
"It's taken a bit longer than we thought at the outset but we felt he was worth the wait and we look forward to seeing him play.
"He's a bright, energetic and creative attacking midfield player who comes into that category of wanting to get better, wanting to improve and wanting to show what he's all about.
"Jake has been champing at the bit while waiting for everything to go through so we've got a player who is desperate and excited to be at the club.
"He's really looking forward to the challenge of what the English football season gives us."
