Rhys Walters

Rhys Walters
Walters with Port Vale in 2023
Personal information
Full name Rhys Anthony Walters[1]
Date of birth (2005-11-18) 18 November 2005 (age 19)[2]
Place of birth Wolverhampton, England[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Port Vale
Youth career
2015–2022 Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Port Vale 11 (0)
2023 → Leek Town (loan) 4 (0)
2025– Port Vale 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:16, 10 January 2025 (UTC)

Rhys Anthony Walters is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Port Vale. He has previously played on loan at Leek Town.

Career

At nine, Walters joined the youth set-up at Port Vale.[4] He made his first-team debut at the age of sixteen on 18 October 2022, coming on for Mipo Odubeko 89 minutes into a 2–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 in an EFL Trophy group stage game at Vale Park.[5] On 4 March 2023, he joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Leek Town on a work experience loan agreement until the end of the 2022–23 season.[3]

Walters made his first start for Port Vale on 29 August 2023, in a 0–0 draw with Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the EFL Cup; he was substituted on 57 minutes, going on to win the man of the match award.[6] Seven days later, he played his first full 90 minutes for the club in a 1–0 victory against the same opponents in a group stage game of the EFL Trophy, where he was paired in the centre of midfield with the experienced Jason Lowe.[7] He provided the assist for Josh Thomas to score the first goal in a 2–1 win over Sutton United in the third round of the EFL Cup on 26 September.[8] He was named as man of the match in the EFL Trophy tie with Newcastle United U21 on 10 October.[9] Speaking the following month, manager Andy Crosby said that "his performances have gradually improved with the more experience he gets", but that he needed to find an "aggressive edge".[10] However a contract was left unsigned due to objections from the player's agent.[11] In April 2024, new manager Darren Moore said that "we feel though he is at a level where he can contribute to the team".[12] He picked up a foot injury in the last game of the 2023–24 season.[13] Contract talks had remained at a stalemate since the start of the year.[14]

The club left a contract offer on the table for the 2024–25 season as Walters had unsuccessful trials elsewhere.[15] He had a trial game with Norwich City Under-21s in November 2024.[16] On 10 January 2025, Walters returned to Port Vale on an initial three-and-a-half-year deal.[17]

Style of play

Walters is a midfielder with good vision.[13]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2024
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 2022–23[18] EFL League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 1 0
2023–24[19] EFL League One 11 0 3 0 3 0 4[a] 0 21 0
2024–25[20] EFL League Two 0 0 — — 0 0 0 0
Total 11 0 3 0 3 0 5 0 22 0
Leek Town (loan) 2022–23[21] Northern Premier League
Division One West		 4 0 — — — 4 0
Career total 15 0 3 0 3 0 5 0 26 0
  1. ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy.

References

  1. ^ "Retained List 2022-23" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  2. ^ Baggaley, Mike (19 November 2023). "Patrick Shanahan and the inside story of Port Vale kits". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Transfer News | Rhys Walters signs for Leek Town on work experience loan until the end of the season". Port Vale F.C. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  4. ^ Baggaley, Michael (18 October 2022). "Lowdown on Plant, Walters and Pevide in Port Vale's Trophy squad". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Papa Johns Trophy (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  7. ^ Carville, Matt (5 September 2023). "Match Report | Port Vale 1-0 Crewe Alexandra". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  8. ^ Youlton, Clive; Travers, Chris (27 September 2023). "Fun times for Port Vale in the Carabao Cup as Ojo strikes late winner". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  9. ^ Baggaley, Mike (12 October 2023). "Jesse Debrah, repaying trust and how Dave Flitcroft clinched the deal". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  10. ^ Baggaley, Mike (8 November 2023). "Port Vale take consolations from Wrexham defeat". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  11. ^ Baggaley, Mike (26 January 2024). "Port Vale chiefs talk transfers, investment and stadium plans". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  12. ^ Baggaley, Mike (18 April 2024). "Vale talking points and injury news ahead of Bolton showdown". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  13. ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (24 June 2024). "Vale youngsters making the grade". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  14. ^ Baggaley, Mike (4 July 2024). "Experience, goals and stepping up preparations". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  15. ^ Baggaley, Mike (3 November 2024). "Vale stretched too far in FA Cup exit". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  16. ^ Southwell, Connor (20 November 2024). "City take Port Vale midfielder on trial in U21s Exeter defeat". The Pink Un. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Rhys Walters rejoins the Valiants". Port Vale FC. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  18. ^ "Games played by Rhys Walters in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Games played by Rhys Walters in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Games played by Rhys Walters in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Leek Town | Appearances | Rhys Walters | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2023.