Okagbue Returns to WalsallOkagbue Returns to Walsall Nigerian defender Emmanuel Okagbue has inked a two-year contract with Walsall Football Club, turning down an offer from Championship outfit Stoke City. Okagbue, 20, initially joined Walsall on loan in September 2022 and impressed with 35 appearances across all competitions. The positive experience during his loan spell weighed heavily in his decision to make his return permanent. Goalkeeper Mat Sadler’s unwavering pursuit of Okagbue played a significant role in convincing the young defender that Walsall was the ideal destination for his career. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be back,” Okagbue expressed to the club’s website. “I love the club, I love everything about it. The team is a great group, and the staff have been really good with me. “It was a very easy decision for me at the end of last season. I couldn’t stop thinking about coming back here, and I’m delighted that it finally happened.”
Okagbue signed a two-year contract with the Saddlers on Thursday after rejecting a new contract offer from Championship club Stoke City.
The 20-year-old joined Walsall on loan in September last year and has made a total of 35 appearances in all competitions.
And after such a fruitful experience at Bescot, Okagbue said Mat Sadler’s persistence in bringing him back to the club further confirmed his belief that Walsall is the right place for him.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be back,” Okagbue told the club’s website. “Especially after last season, I love the club, I love everything about it. I love the team, it’s a great group, it’s quite a similar group again this year and the staff have been really good with me.
“It was a very easy decision for me at the end of last season and during the whole off-season all I could think about was that I wanted to come here and I’m happy that it worked out in the end.
