Port Vale Football Club is delighted to confirm that Will Forrester has signed for the club from Stoke City on a permanent transfer.

The 21-year-old joined Stoke’s academy aged six and has progressed through their youth team yanks with his impressive performances.

The Alsager born defender made his senior debut in October 2018, aged 17, playing for the Stoke City Under-21 side in a 2-1 win away at Morecambe in the EFL Trophy.

Forrester made 25 appearances for the Potters’ Under-18 side before moving up to the Uunder-23 squad, where he continued to make an impact playing Premier League 2 football.

He can play as either a centre-half or a right-back and his performances with the Under-23 side were rewarded with his first team debut aged 19, where he played 90 minutes away at Bournemouth on the final day of the 2020/21 season, scoring in a 2-0 win.

In August 2021, he joined Mansfield Town on a short term loan, but was restricted to just seven outings due to an ankle injury, before making his way back into the Stoke first team on three occasions before the end of last season.

The most notable of these came in a 3-1 win away at West Brom, where Stoke manager Michael O’Neil praised Forrester’s performance against Baggies’ striker Andy Carroll, saying “He’s a young player with a lot of potential.”

Forrester arrives having scored 10 times during his 93 games of football from Under-18 level upwards.

On the acquisition, manager Darrell Clarke said: “Will is a real top player, he arrives at the cub having already played Championship football at such a young age.

“He’s been at Stoke a very long time and he’s ready for a new challenge where he can continue to develop as a player and get more regular first team football.

“He’s got all the attributes of a top centre half so I’m really really delighted to bring him to the club and I’m looking forward to helping to kick on his career.”

Welcome to Port Vale, Will!

This is subject to EFL and FA clearance.