Walsall sign attacking midfielder Rico Richards on season-long loan from Port Vale
Walsall have signed off their deadline day business by completing the signing of Port Vale attacking midfielder Rico Richards on a season-long loan.
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Vale Park, scoring four goals in 32 league games to help lead them to automatic promotion in League Two.
Richards joined Vale permanently this summer but has featured just 11 minutes from the bench in the third-tier.
He began his career at West Brom, making his debut as a substitute in a Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal in August 2021.
His league debut came off the bench against Hull before he departed for local rivals Aston Villa in the summer of 2023.
Richards spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Stockport County - scoring once in 11 outings as they won the League Two title.
"I'm very excited to be here. I've heard it's a very good club to be involved with and I can't wait to get started," Richards said.
"I'll bring creativity in the final third as well as goals and assists."
Walsall boss Mat Sadler added: "Rico is a creative player. He's had two very successful seasons in the last two years, gaining promotion of the division, and he's a player who I've liked from his West Brom and Villa days.
"He knows all about the club, he only lives down the road in Great Barr and he likes to create with his ability to dribble and drive past a player."
