The hits and misses - Walsall's 2025-26 loan players ranked

The dreaded January recall window has stung Walsall on numerous occasions, although they did at least keep hold of top scorer Daniel Kanu this time around.

In total, Walsall signed nine players via the loan market (including Jonny Stuttle) across the course of the campaign - and the Express & Star have ranked them in order of efficiency below...

1. Daniel Kanu (41 appearances, 18 goals, 3 assists)

A drumroll is hardly necessary for this one and the numbers speak for itself.

His influence has perhaps somewhat dipped in recent weeks but Walsall have been treated to yet another potent loan man following the likes of Freddie Draper and Nathan Lowe.

Kanu equalled Lowe’s tally of 18 from the previous campaign with his latest strike during a 2-2 draw against Gillingham on Good Friday - albeit having played 11 more games.

The Sierra Leone international needs just to find the net just once in the final three games to become the first Saddlers’ player to score 19+ goals in a season since Tom Bradshaw’s 20-goal haul in 2015-16.

2. Myles Roberts

The Watford loanee has been ever-present between the sticks in League Two barring his three-game suspension in late February and early March.

Roberts has had his ups and downs, but has also produced a number of excellent saves over the course of the season, to move on to 14 clean sheets in all competitions.

3. Jid Okeke

Okeke made an immediate impression on his debut when he climbed off the bench to score in a 3-1 win at Shrewsbury Town in the EFL Trophy.

His versatility was key in the wing-back positions of Mat Sadler’s 3-5-2 during the first half of the campaign.

The 21-year-old was recalled by Stockport County in January but returned for a second loan spell on transfer deadline day.

He has reportedly agreed a pre-contract with SV Waldhof Mannheim in the third-tier of his native Germany ahead of next season.

The Express & Star understands Mannheim have had to pay training compensation to Stockport for Okeke, which would’ve cost more had he joined another English club.

Okeke also had interest from Austria - while Mannheim are also believed to have had three bids rejected during the winter window.

4. Ryan Finnigan

Finnigan arrived at Walsall looking to rebuild his career after a spate of injuries hampered his progression at Southampton and later with Blackpool.

The midfielder had a tendency to blow hot and cold, but he did hit upon a purple patch during November, which heralded the League Two player of the month award.

He scored his first goal at Shrewsbury in the EFL Trophy in September, but netted three times in November - including a brace in a 4-2 success at Newport County.

Blackpool recalled him during the winter window and Finnigan - who is out of contract with the Tangerines in the summer -has since seen his Bloomfield Road comeback interrupted by an ankle injury.

5. Aaron Loupalo-Bi

After joining on loan from Fulham under-21s in January, Loupalo-Bi initially struggled to break into the first team under Sadler and was limited to just seven substitute appearances.

However, the 20-year-old, originally signed as a striker, has started the past six games on the left wing with interim head coach Darren Byfield at the helm.

Loupalo-Bi scored his first goal in the EFL during a 2-2 draw against Gillingham at Bescot on Good Friday and followed that up with an assist for Jamie Jellis in a 2-1 defeat at Swindon Town on Easter Monday.

6. Kacper Lopata

The Polish defender had made 14 appearances for League Two rivals Bristol Rovers earlier in the season before joining Walsall on loan from Barnsley in January.

Lopata made his debut from the bench in a 3-1 win at Tranmere Rovers and was handed successive starts as the Saddlers drew 2-2 at Grimsby Town and lost 2-0 at home to MK Dons in February.

In total, the 24-year-old has made eight appearances - including five starts.

7. Rico Richards

The former West Brom and Aston Villa academy product has found minutes hard to come by since arriving on loan from local rivals Port Vale on transfer deadline day in the summer.

He has played just 259 minutes across his 10 appearances in League Two - starting just once in a goalless draw against Crawley Town at Bescot in late January.

Richards did at least enjoy a run in the team in the EFL Trophy and scored his only two goals for the club in a 2-1 success at Stevenage in the round of 32.

8. Dan Cox

After a successful trial during pre-season, Cox joined on a season-long loan from Derby County.

He started in the Saddlers’ 2-1 win at Barnet and 1-0 home defeat against Grimsby Town in August, but struggled for game time in League Two for the remainder of his spell.

Cox made just one more league start - in a 1-0 win at Oldham Athletic in December - and played just seven times in all competitions.

Derby recalled him during the winter window and Cox has since had loan spells at Wealdstone and Solihull Moors in the National League.

Honourable mention - Jonny Stuttle

Stuttle signed on loan from Bournemouth in the summer and featured regularly in pre-season alongside Aaron Pressley in attack.

The 20-year-old featured in each of the Saddlers’ opening four games but saw his season ended by an ACL injury against Grimsby in mid August.