Walsall have confirmed the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Jackson Smith, who joins on a one-year deal following an undisclosed transfer agreement between the two clubs.21-year-old Smith enjoyed a six-month loan spell with the Saddlers in the second half of the 2022/23 season where he provided strong competition to Owen Evans and impressed in appearances against Crawley Town and Doncaster Rovers.
Smith progressed through the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Academy having joined at the age of eight and was a regular in both their Under 18 and Under 23 sides.
In the summer of 2022, he joined Wolves’ first team on their pre-season tour of Spain and Portugal and played against Levante, Farense, and Besiktas – and kept a clean sheet against the Turkish giants.
His other previous experience of men’s football came during loan spells in non-league at Frickley Athletic and Kettering Town, where he kept 12 clean sheets in 31 matches.
Head Coach Mat Sadler is pleased to welcome Jackson back to the Bescot and admitted he is looking forward to working with him again.
Speaking via the club's official website, Mat said; "I’m exceptionally pleased to have Jackson at the club on a permanent basis.
"He was fantastic for us last season and that department can now push each other with Owen and Jackson being our two goalkeepers.
"I’ve waited all summer to get Jackson done and had some guys that have helped along the way and had some trialists in games but it was always with the intention of it working out with Jackson.
"He’s a fantastic lad, a really good guy and throughout all of pre-season, we want to make sure that we have players in the building who are desperate to improve, desperate to get better and keep moving the football club forwards and Jackson fits that mould.
"I’m really chuffed we’ve got it done and Jackson comes in with a real spring in his step and I’m sure the lads will be really pleased to see him."