Blackburn Rovers have signed goalkeeper Christian Walton on a season-long loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion. This contract will see the player stay with the club during the 2019-20 season.
Blackburn Rovers Complete Signing of Christian Walton
✍️ #Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper @Waltz_1 from @OfficialBHAFC on a season-long loan.
Read more: ➡️https://t.co/shqEqS36UN #WelcomeWalton🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/hVAILD9e7S
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) July 23, 2019
Career So Far
Throughout his football career, Christian Walton has played for a number of sides but only on temporary loan deals.
During a two-year spell with Wigan Athletic, Walton helped the Latics win the Sky Bet League One title in his first term; and helped them avoid relegation from the second tier in his second year.
Walton has made only four appearances for the Brighton academy since progressing through their youth ranks; however, the talented shot-stopper has gained plenty of experience outside of the Premier League in recent years.
His most successful loan spells occurred at Luton Town (33 games, nine clean sheets) and Wigan Athletic, with whom he made 30 clean sheets from 69 appearances across two years.
What This Means For the Future
Blackburn are keen to bolster their goalkeeping options after allowing Spaniard David Raya to sign for Brentford. As a result, the Rovers have just one senior goalkeeper, Jayson Leutwiler.
In signing Walton, the Lancashire side now have two senior goalkeepers. As a result, boss Tony Mowbray will be gifted with healthy competition for the number one spot with each ‘keeper certain to challenge the other for the starting position.
Joining as the Rovers’ fourth venture into the transfer market this summer, Walton joins with a wealth of experience.
Walton spent short loan spells with Bury and then Plymouth during the 2015-16 season. The first half of the 2016-17 season he was on loan at Luton Town, starting 33 games, before being recalled by Brighton at the end of January.
The talented shot-stopper has also earned international honours with England, represented the Three Lions at Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 level.
The new signing is expected to be part of the Rovers squad that travels to Bury for a pre-season friendly tomorrow night.
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