Rhys Walters

Last updated
Rhys Walters
Rhys Walters.jpg
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
Number 38
Youth career
2015–2022 Port Vale
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2024 Port Vale 12 (0)
2023 → Leek Town (loan) 4 (0)
2025– Port Vale 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:54, 29 March 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.

Contents

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] Moore said that Walters was the team's "best player by a country mile" in a 2–1 defeat at Colchester United on 11 March, his second game since returning to the club. [18]

Style of play

Walters is a midfielder with good vision. [13] Port Vale manger Darren Moore said that he "can get himself out of tight situations with his ability, he has a wonderful engine, is creative when he goes forward but is powerful and does his work off the ball". [19]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 March 2025
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup EFL Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 2022–23 [20] EFL League One 0000001 [a] 010
2023–24 [21] EFL League One11030304 [a] 0210
2024–25 [22] EFL League Two 60——1 [a] 070
Total170303060290
Leek Town (loan) 2022–23 [23] Northern Premier League
Division One West		40———40
Career total210303060330
  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 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. ↑ Baggaley, Mike (12 March 2025). "Vale left to reflect on Colchester defeat". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  19. ↑ Baggaley, Mike (20 March 2025). "Making home advantage count". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  20. ↑ "Games played by Rhys Walters in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  21. ↑ "Games played by Rhys Walters in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  22. ↑ "Games played by Rhys Walters in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  23. ↑ "Leek Town | Appearances | Rhys Walters | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
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