Tom Leak has signed a new contract with Walsall. The 19-year-old defender returned from a loan spell with non-league side Salisbury last season.
Tom Leak Signs New Deal at Walsall
Planning for the Future
Leak signed a short-term professional deal with Walsall in May 2019 but is yet to make a senior appearance for the club.
The central defender represented Walsall at youth level since joining the Saddler’s in 2015. He won the U16 player of the year award in the 2016/17 season and played 28 games for the U18s in the 2018/19 campaign.
Leak joined Salisbury for his first loan spell in October 2019 and returned to the club in January 2020 for a second spell.
He is the latest youngster to sign a new deal with the Saddlers, following Sam Perry and Joe Willis.
‘Delighted’ Leak
Speaking to the Saddler’s official website about his new deal, Leak explained how he is now ready to make the step up to the first team following his loan spell and after spending years in the academy.
Leak said: “I’m delighted to have signed, to be honest with you.
“With the current situation that we are in, I am delighted to have got things sorted and to have got it done.
“It was massive for me to go out on loan last season and I think it is what I needed.
“I was stepping up into a men’s environment for the first time and challenging myself at that level.
“I thought I did well with it to be fair and I have gained valuable experience from going out on loan.
“In first-team football, it means absolutely everything to get the three points on a Saturday.
“The intensity isn’t quite there when you’re with the under 18s and 23s but when you make the step up, you realise just how much it means to get the three points on the board and it made me realise that people need the three points to feed their kids and they can only do that by winning games.”
“Hopefully I can get in and around the first team, which is my main aim. I want to really push on this season and keep developing and hopefully, I can make my debut.”
Leak Deserves Contract
Development manager at Walsall, Brian Dutton, coached Leak in the youth squads at Walsall. Also speaking to the club’s official site, he said: “Tom has earned his contract through his unrelenting work ethic and application.”
“He cut his teeth with men’s first-team football last season with his loan at Salisbury where he thrived.
“He is a player we believe is for the future but we may need to call on him sooner rather than later if he can continue his excellent development.”
Main Photo
