Swindon Town has announced the signing of former Crawley Town centre-back Will Wright upon the expiry of his contract after the defender failed to agree on terms.
The 27-year-old defender, won promotion with The Red Devils last season and joins Swindon becoming their fifth summer signing.
Speaking to the clubs’ media team Will had this to say.
“I’m buzzing, now it’s all done and all real. I’m ready to get going and get my teeth into pre-season.
“The club speaks for itself and it’s such a big club at this level, and even at the league above as well. I think the next move after last season’s success was a big one for myself, so coming here with the project and the ambition they’re setting out, it just felt right.”
Who is Will Wright?
The defender’s first club was at Non-League Hitchin Town, before a move to Colchester United in August 2017, however, failed to make an appearance for them. He was sent out on loan to National League side Dagenham & Redbridge for 19/20 season, where he would go onto make 27 appearances in the league scoring twice.
Upon returning from his loan spell at The Daggers, he was then signed permanently to them, mainly appearing as a right-back during the 20/21 season where he scored one goal in 31 appearances in the National League. The 21/22 season, was one of his most productive appearing in 43 games in the league, scoring 3 times and often captaining The Daggers. He also made an appearance for the England C team in their 4-0 defeat to Wales C. In total, he would make 138 appearances for Dagenham.
He was then on the move for the 22/23 season, signing for League Two side Gillingham, where he made 46 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice, and playing across the back 4 in what was a difficult season for the Gills.
23/24 he moved to fellow League Two side Crawley Town, where he made an instant impact scoring on his debut in a 1-0 win over Bradford City. The defender only missed one game during the entire League Two season, through suspension, and was a key part of the reason Crawley Town ended up in the play-offs, scoring 4 goals and providing 8 assists in the league.
What will he bring to Swindon?
Firstly as a centre half in a back three, you would struggle to find a better ball-playing defender than Will Wright for League Two level. In a possession team under Scott Lindsey, the defender was in the 97% percentile for chances created per 90 as well as in the 85% percentile for successful passes per 90. (stats from fotmob). He also created the most chances with 69 and the most successful cross with 53 for center-backs in League Two last season.
The defender is also somewhat of a set-piece specialist, scoring two direct free kicks for Crawley last season offering a different dimension to set plays all four of his goals last season in the league were from outside the box with only eight of his 44 shots from inside the box.
With newly-appointed manager Mark Kennedy usually operating with three centre-backs from his time at Lincoln City, Will is one of the best options to have for a right centre back in my opinion.