Walsall outlines Elicha Ahui plan for next season

Ahui, who joined Walsall on an 18-month deal with the option of a further year in January, returned to Drogheda United on loan upon signing for the Saddlers. 

The defender missed the first half games of the League of Ireland season due to a knee injury. 

However, Ahui made his comeback in mid-April and has gone onto make seven appearances, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Derry City in May.

"Elicha will join us in pre-season and we still have the option of him going back there [to Drogheda] after that," boss Mat Sadler confirmed.

"He has had his own injury troubles himself recently and he is just getting his way back into the team now. 

"We look forward to him hopefully getting a consistent run of games over the next couple of months and then we look forward to seeing him returning during pre-season. 

Ahui becomes the latest example of collaboration between Walsall and fellow Trivela-owned club Drogheda. 

Evan Weir joined Walsall midway into the 2023-24 season before returning to Drogheda on loan for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. 

He has gone on to make 22 appearances for the Saddlers this term, registering four assists across all competitions. 

Meanwhile, Douglas James-Taylor has spent the past year on loan with the Drogs, scoring 14 goals and setting up four more in 29 matches for the Irish outfit.

Sadler intends to continue to harness the relationship between the two clubs, and also mentioned Silkeborg IF, when outlining the prospect of future collaborations under the Trivela umbrella.

"Elicha is another player with a bright future that we've got," Sadler added. 

"That's one of the wonderful things about this football club at the moment. 

"Having those links with Drogheda, and now Silkeborg, in terms of having that ability of people playing games to gain experience. 

"I'm sure it's only something that is going to be utilised more and more, and Elicha is one of those."