Walsall have completed the Transfer Deadline Day signing of Forest Green Rovers striker Matty Stevens, who arrives at Poundland Bescot Stadium on loan until the end of the season.
The 24-year-old was Forest Green’s top goal scorer last season with 27 goals in all competitions as the Gloucestershire club won the Sky Bet League Two title.
Stevens had an impressive youth career. He netted 32 goals for Reading’s Under 16s in the 2013-14 campaign before a move to Barnet on a two-year scholarship.
He impressed in their youth team and was handed his senior debut in September 2014 and became their youngest ever player, aged 16 years and 204 days. Two months later, he also became their youngest-ever goal scorer.
He made his EFL debut with the Bees in August 2015 and bagged his first EFL goal in January 2016, before joining League One outfit Peterborough United later in the summer.
During his time at London Road, he enjoyed loan spells at Cambridge City, Sligo Rovers, and Kettering Town, where he netted 30 goals in the Southern League Premier Division.
In the first half of the 2018-19 season, he scored 11 goals in the National League South with Slough Town.
That attracted the attention of Forest Green who snapped him up in July 2019 and he’s scored a total of 39 goals at the Fully Charged New Lawn.
Speaking via the club's official website, Walsall Head Coach Michael Flynn admitted he was delighted to get the deal over the line; "I'm over the moon. He's shown real hunger and a desire to come and play for us.
"He could have took the easy option and moved to a club closer to home. He's always enjoyed playing at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, he's scored a few times there and now I'm hoping he does that in a Walsall shirt because if we can get him up and firing straight away then he's going to be a big signing for us."