Walsall sign former Brighton and Hull left-back James Furlong on free transfer | OneFootball

Walsall have signed Irish left-back James Furlong on a free transfer. According to ExpressAndStar.com, the 24-year-old has agreed a one-year deal.

Furlong is Walsall’s 14th summer arrival and will compete with Mason Hancock at left-back, after Vincent Harper joined Exeter City on loan last week.

Dublin-born, he progressed with Bray Wanderers and Shamrock Rovers, making his senior debut aged 16 in April 2019. He moved to Brighton that summer, featuring more than 80 times at youth level and making one senior outing, a late substitute in a 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Forest Green Rovers.

He supplied three assists in 16 appearances on loan at Motherwell in 2022-23, then joined Hull City, where he played once in all competitions. A 2024-25 loan to AFC Wimbledon brought 30 games and promotion via a 1-0 win over Walsall in the League Two play-off final.

In February he left Hull for NK Maribor, although he did not make an appearance in Slovenia. He also had a trial with fellow League Two outfit Rotherham United earlier this summer.

Furlong said training with the squad had been enjoyable and that he sees this as a fresh start. He felt Lee Grant’s playing style suits him and the emphasis on improvement aligns with his mentality.

Head coach Lee Grant added that Furlong has had significant exposure early in his career and knows what it takes to succeed, having earned promotion from this division before.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com

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