Port Vale’s transfer window summary – thirteen in, six out and even two deals with Stoke!
It’s been an often controversial and sporadically busy summer transfer window for Port Vale FC.
Opinion – only time will tell if it’s a success or failure
I have some sympathy with the Port Vale hierarchy. It’s been a truncated summer and the club didn’t even know which division it would be in till weeks after the end of the previous season, giving its rivals a significant head start in strengthening their squads.
I think it’s a positive that the management team have been so upfront with supporters during this time. They urged patience, they said that the squad may not be fully formed when the season started, they admitted deficiencies upfront.
However, acknowledging a problem is only half the job – the other part is solving the issue. And that part is very much in the balance.
Answering whether Vale have strengthened upfront is probably the key. Like Connor Hall in the previous window, Ellis Harrison looks to be a great signing but the willing runner can’t do it all himself. Dennis Politic looks like a great bench option but perhaps not a regular starter. Not much is known about loanees Dan Butterworth and Mipo Odubeko. Arguably much still depends on whether James Wilson and Jamie Proctor can return to full fitness and play a full part upfront.
Valiants transfer timeline
1 June 2022: Port Vale announce their retained list. It confirms the departure of David Amoo, while contract extensions have been executed for Nathan Smith and Aidan Stone. The club say that they are in negotiations with out of contract trio Mal Benning, Jamie Proctor and James Gibbons.
2 June 2022: Bradford City confirm the loan signing of Port Vale play-off final hero Kian Harratt. The former Vale loanee has agreed a season-long spell with the Bantams.
11 June 2022: CONFIRMED MOVE Port Vale make former loanee Lewis Cass their first permanent signing of the summer.
12 June 2022: a journalist links Port Vale midfielder Jake Taylor with a move to Morecambe
15 June 2022: the Bristol Evening Post links Port Vale with a move for striker Louis Britton
21 June 2022: CONFIRMED DEPARTURE Port Vale confirm that winger Alex Hurst has been sold to York City for an undisclosed fee.
21 June 2022: Port Vale confirm that goalkeeper Aidan Stone has agreed a contract extension taking him to the summer of 2024.
21 June 2022: Port Vale confirm that striker Jamie Proctor has agreed a contract extension with the club
22 June 2022: CONFIRMED DEPARTURE Reading announce that they have signed Port Vale youth team player John Clarke
22 June 2022: CONFIRMED DEPARTURE Port Vale confirm that James Gibbons has turned down the offer of a new contract and will leave the club.
23 June 2022: former Port Vale loanee Ryan Edmondson agrees a permanent move to Carlisle United.
23 June 2022: Port Vale announce that Mal Benning has agreed a contract extension
24 June 2022: the Sentinel reports that no youth teamers will be given a professional contract this summer.
27 June 2022: the Express and Star newspaper claims that out of contract Walsall midfielder Rory Holden is training with the Valiants
28 June 2022: CONFIRMED MOVE Port Vale confirm the addition of Belgian midfielder Funso Ojo to their squad.
05 July 2022: CONFIRMED DEPARTURE Port Vale confirm the departure of goalkeeper Lucas Covolan on a season-long loan to Chesterfield
08 July 2022: CONFIRMED DEPARTURE Port Vale confirm that midfielder Jake Taylor has been sold to Morecambe for an undisclosed fee
08 July 2022: CONFIRMED DEPARTURE Port Vale confirm that experienced defender Aaron Martin has moved to Eastleigh
25 July 2022: CONFIRMED MOVE Port Vale confirm that forward Gavin Massey has signed for the club.
26 July 2022: Port Vale are rumoured to be signing Stoke City defender Will Forrester
26 July 2022: CONFIRMED MOVES During a hectic day, Port Vale make three signings – former Watford man Derek Agyakwa, former Stoke City stopper Will Forrester and Southampton loanee Thierry Small. Meanwhile, youngster Tommy McDermott signs his first professional contract.
29 July 2022: CONFIRMED MOVE Port Vale confirm that trialist Rory Holden has agreed a permanent deal with the club.
11 August 2022: CONFIRMED MOVES Port Vale confirm that they have signed former Fleetwood Town striker Ellis Harrison on a permanent deal and also signed goalkeeper Jack Stevens on loan from Oxford Utd.
22 August 2022: Port Vale are one of a number of sides linked with Morecambe forward Cole Stockton.
26 August 2022: CONFIRMED MOVE Port Vale confirm the signing of West Ham youngster Mipo Odubeko on a season-long loan.
1 September: CONFIRMED MOVES A busy deadline day sees Port Vale bring in three players. Firstly, the return of Dennis Politic on loan, then Blackburn striker Dan Butterworth on loan and finally the loan addition of Stoke winger Liam McCarron.
How the Vale squad looks
Goalkeepers
Defenders
- Connor Hall
- Chris Hussey
- Dan Jones
- Sammy Robinson
- Nathan Smith
- Lewis Cass
- Mal Benning
- Derek Agyakwa
- Will Forrester
- Thierry Small (on loan from Southampton)
Midfielders
- Tom Conlon
- Harry Charsley
- Ben Garrity
- Tom Pett
- Brad Walker
- David Worrall
- Funso Ojo
- Tommy McDermott
- Rory Holden
- Gavin Massey
- Liam McCarron (on loan from Stoke City)
Forwards
- James Wilson
- Jamie Proctor
- Ellis Harrison
- Dennis Politic (on loan from Cremonese)
- Mipo Odubeko (on loan from West Ham)
- Dan Butterworth (on loan from Blackburn Rov)