[themaclad]

Plymouth have exercised their option to keep midfielder Jordan Houghton at Home Park for a further 12 months.

The 26-year-old played 50 times this season but was sent off in Saturday's 5-0 thrashing by MK Dons as Argyle missed out on the League One play-offs.

Plymouth had already taken up their option to extend fellow midfielder Panutche Camara's contract.

Wing-back Ryan Law, 22, whose deal expires this summer, has been offered a new contract.

The club have also taken up the option to extend the contract of Brandon Pursall, 18, but fellow defender Ollie Tomlinson, 19, has been released.

[themaclad]

Plymouth Argyle wing-back Ryan Law has signed a new contract.

The 22-year-old - who has been at Home Park since he was eight years old - scored twice in 21 games this season, including the winner against Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round.

"It's unbelievable really. I am so happy to sign for another year," Law told the club website.

"I feel like last season was another big step in the right direction for my career.

"I've played over 20 games and hope to play a lot more and make some very special memories playing for Plymouth Argyle."

Law made his EFL debut in April 2021 and scored his first goal for the club in the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in September.

"He has become a very reliable member of the squad and has performed really well whenever called upon," said Argyle manager Steve Schumacher.

"The aim for Ryan now, is to establish himself as our first choice left wing back and to continue his development next season."

[themaclad]

Plymouth Argyle have signed midfielder Matt Butcher on a free transfer.

He had been offered a new contract by Accrington but left the Lancashire club two years after joining from Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old, who scored six goals in 85 games for Accrington, has agreed a two-year contract at Home Park.

Butcher came through the academy at Bournemouth and played two cup games for the Cherries and had loans at Woking, Yeovil Town and St Johnstone.

"He is a player we have been watching closely for a couple of years at Accrington Stanley," Argyle manager Steven Schumacher told the club website of his first summer signing.

"Matt is a very technically gifted footballer who has also got physical attributes that we are needing to strengthen our midfield.

"He is versatile and is able to play different roles in our system. We will be looking for him to add goals to his game and I'm sure he is going to enjoy his time here at Argyle."

[themaclad]

Plymouth Argyle have signed wing-back Mickel Miller on a two-year deal after his release from Rotherham United.

The 26-year-old joined Rotherham in 2020 and made 30 appearances for the club during the last campaign.

He scored four goals as the club won promotion to the Championship.

Miller began his career playing non-league football and also spent two-and-a-half years with Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership before joining Rotherham.

Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher said Miller "will bring pace, energy and directness to our left-hand side and I am sure the fans will take to him also when they see how hard he works for the team."

Miller's signing comes after left wing-back George Cooper left the club by mutual consent and subsequently joined National League side Chesterfield.

The 25-year-old first signed for Argyle on loan in 2019 before making the move permanent the following year. He made 51 appearances for the club.

[themaclad]

Plymouth Argyle have signed midfielder Finn Azaz on a season-long loan from Premier League side Aston Villa.

The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Newport County and was named in the League Two Team of the Season having scored seven goals in 42 games.

The former West Bromwich Albion youngster joined Villa in 2021 after a season-long loan at Cheltenham where the club won the League Two title.

He has yet to play a first team game for his parent side, however.

[themaclad]

Bali Mumba
Bali Mumba's last appearance for Norwich City came in a 5-0 loss at Manchester City last August
League One side Plymouth Argyle have signed Norwich City full-back Bali Mumba on a season-long loan deal.

The 20-year-old has played five league games for Norwich, including a half against Manchester City last August.

Mumba spent the second half of last season on loan at Peterborough United, playing 10 times in the Championship and making three FA Cup appearances.

He began his career at Sunderland, where he played 10 times, before moving to Norfolk two years ago.

"Bali Mumba will add pace, directness and excitement to our right wing-back department this season," Plymouth manager Steve Schumacher told the club website.

"The physical demands required in that area of the pitch for us is immense, so having real competition now on both sides will improve our chances."

[themaclad]

Swansea City forward Morgan Whittaker has joined League One side Plymouth Argyle on a season-long loan.

The 21-year-old scored five goals in 20 games while on loan at Lincoln City in the second half of last season.

He has scored five goals in 22 appearances for the Swans, after a deadline day £700,000 move from Derby County in February 2021.

He scored a late hat-trick for Swansea against Plymouth in a 4-1 EFL Trophy win in August last year.

"Morgan is a very talented young player, who can play either in a front three, or as a striker in a front two," Argyle manager Steven Schumacher told the club website.

"He is left-footed and will bring another quality option to our attacking line this season."

[themaclad]

Plymouth Argyle have signed Dutch defender Nigel Lonwijk from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old spent last season with Fortuna Sittard in the Dutch top division where he made 22 appearances and scored one goal.

"He is a versatile defender who can play in any position," manager Steven Schumacher said.

"He is quick and aggressive and has good ability in possession."

Lonwijk played youth football for PSV Eindhoven before signing for Wolves in 2020.

The centre-back has played one game for the Netherlands at under-16 level.

Argyle get their new League One campaign under way at home against Barnsley on Saturday.

'Lonwijk has come to add competition'
Analysis - BBC Radio Devon sports editor, Alan Richardson

The Pilgrims' transfer signings over the last 15 months have been spot-on and manager Stephen Schumacher is on record saying he landed five of his six targets this summer.

Whether young Lonwijk is the sixth remains to be seen, but he arrives with an exciting pedigree.

Schumacher says the Dutch player has come to add competition for places and with a couple defenders still working their way back from injury, it may well be the 19-year-old's chance comes sooner rather than later.

[themaclad]

Plymouth Argyle have signed Birmingham City striker Sam Cosgrove on season-long-loan.

The 25-year-old made a combined 32 appearances for Shrewsbury Town and AFC Wimbledon in League One during two loan spells last season.

"He gives us a different option and a more physical presence upfront," manager Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Devon.

"He's not just a big target man, he's an all-rounder, at a good age."

Cosgrove's youth career began at Everton before he joined Wigan Athletic on an apprenticeship in 2013.

He scored 44 goals in 40 matches for their under-18s before signing with the Latics in 2015.

The Yorkshire-born forward's most successful spell in senior football came with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership where he scored 47 goals in three years including 17 in a single league campaign - the second highest total in the division that season.

He signed with Birmingham in January 2021 and has made 15 appearances, mostly as a substitute.

[themaclad]

Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher says it was a "no-brainer" to extend goalkeeper Callum Burton's contract.

The 26-year-old has agreed a new deal until the summer of 2024, having joined on a free transfer at the start of last season from Cambridge United.

"He's a very good goalkeeper," Schumacher said.

"Since he's been here over the last two years his training performances, his performances when he's played the games has been very good.

Burton has yet to play in the league for Argyle, with homegrown goalkeeper Michael Cooper the club's first choice.

But Schumacher says Cooper's success is down in part to Burton's role within the squad.

"It's a difficult position sometimes to be a number two, but he understands and he pushes Michael every single day in training.

"I think we're getting the performances you get out of Michael because Michael knows that he has to play well, as he's got somebody competing with him.

"It was important then that we secured Callum for next year, gave him a bit of security as well, and whatever happens with Michael in the future, if Callum's going to be here then we've got a more than capable goalkeeper to fill in and play."

Burton's new deal is the first from a large group of players who are out of contract next summer at Home Park, with the likes of Danny Mayor, Jordan Houghton and Joe Edwards all coming to the end of their deals.

"The planning is already ongoing, as it will be for recruitment and what we want to bring in, it's also what we need to secure and tie down," added Schumacher.

"We're on it, and we're aware of where we're at and the work is always ongoing."