[themaclad]

Port Vale have signed AFC Wimbledon midfielder Ethan Chislett and Salford City defender Jason Lowe.

Chislett, 24, was offered a new contract by the Dons but has instead agreed a two-year deal with Vale.

He spent three years with the London club and made 51 appearances last season, scoring 11 goals.

Lowe, 31, made 125 appearances for the Ammies and scored the final spot-kick as they beat Portsmouth 4-2 on penalties to win the 2020 EFL Trophy.

He has also signed a two-year contract at Vale Park.

"Jason brings a wealth of experience and versatility to our team, and we are absolutely thrilled to have him join us," said Vale boss Andy Crosby.

"His track record speaks for itself, his maturity and understanding of the game after 400 career appearances is exactly what we need heading into a new season."

On the arrival of Chislett, director of football Dave Flitcroft said: "He is a player that loves to find space in between midfield players and defenders. His timing of runs into the box to create goalscoring opportunities is outstanding.

"Ethan's previous experience in League One will be instrumental in our midfield. We are confident that he will make a positive impact and contribute to our objectives for the season."

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Port Vale's Mitch Clark has received a suspended three-month ban and a fine of £600 after admitting breaching Football Association betting rules.

Clark, 24, placed 312 bets on football games, including three on former club Accrington, an independent panel heard.

One bet was against Stanley, as part of an accumulator and for a low stake.

The panel suspended the ban as Clark did not benefit financially, the integrity of the game was unaffected, and he had also sought addiction help.

His ban has been suspended for two years pending any further breach of the FA's betting rules.

In the case notes, the panel judged that despite his "aggravating" number of bets placed between 8 February 2022 and 10 March 2023, Clark did not show "proclivity or consistent intent to target his team losing", nor to "attempt to influence or bring about a negative result".

He also did not play in the match in which he had placed the bet against his club.

They also stated that after the FA's charge was lodged, Clark had complied with the disciplinary process in full, been "candid" and shown "genuine remorse", as well as admitting to an addiction and receiving treatment through the Sporting Chance charity.

Clark made 49 appearances for Stanley during the 2022-23 season as they were relegated from League One, before joining Vale this summer.

Under FA rules and regulations, there is a worldwide ban on betting on football in place for those involved in the sport from the Premier League level down to step four of the non-league pyramid.

This includes betting on matches, and other football-related matters such as transfers, signings, managerial appointments and sackings, or team selections.

[themaclad]

Port Vale have signed Crystal Palace defender Kofi Balmer on a season-long loan.

The former Northern Ireland Under-21 captain is a centre-back who can also play at full-back or wing-back.

Balmer joined Palace from Larne in 2021 after coming through the youth ranks at Ballymena United.

He played for Larne in the Europa Conference League in 2021-22 and helped them to the County Antrim Shield in the same season.

Balmer worked under Vale manager Andy Crosby when he was assistant to Northern Ireland U21s coach Ian Baraclough, and has since been called into the senior national squad.

Crosby said: "He is the type of player that will fit in well with what we're building on and off the field here at Vale Park and will provide good competition in defence.

"He has played more than 100 senior games in his career and has further developed his game at Premier League first-team level, gaining invaluable experience training and learning from elite-level players at Crystal Palace.

"Kofi has experienced playing international football with Northern Ireland and will be looking to regain his place in the senior squad.

"He has got the drive to succeed and is a natural leader, even at a young age. He will also have the support network around him to help him grow during his time here."

[themaclad]

Port Vale have brought in Sheffield United teenager Oliver Arblaster on a season-long loan to take their number of summer signings into double figures.

The 19-year-old England Under-18 midfielder has made four Championship appearances for the Blades.

He becomes Vale's 10th signing under new boss Andy Crosby.

"Oliver is a player that possesses fantastic technical ability - his maturity as a player and person are years ahead of his age," said Crosby.

Connor Ripley, Jayson Leutwiler, Mitch Clark, Kofi Balmer, Alex Iacovitti, Conor Grant, Tom Sang, Jason Lowe and Ethan Chislett have already arrived at Vale Park this summer.

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Port Vale striker James Wilson, who rejected a new contract at the end of last season, is to remain with the League One club on a short-term deal.

The 27-year-old ex-Manchester United, Aberdeen and Salford man has signed a six-month deal to stay in Burslem.

Wilson had carried on training with Vale, while awaiting his next move.

"James has shown on numerous occasions at Port Vale his undoubted qualities and I firmly believe there is much more to come," said Vale boss Andy Crosby.

He will now be available for the League One season opener against last season's beaten play-off finalists Barnsley at Oakwell, as Crosby's side begin their bid to improve on last season's 18th-place finish.

Biddulph-born Wilson, who was Vale top scorer with 15 goals when the club returned to the third tier in 2021-22, will now be at Vale Park "until at least January 2024".

Wilson first made his name when he scored twice on his Manchester United debut at home to Hull City in the Premier League in May 2014.

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Port Vale have signed Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alfie Devine on a season-long loan.

The England Under-20 international, 19, becomes Vale's 11th signing of the summer transfer window - and third on loan from a Premier League club.

"He's an exciting young player who shows a maturity beyond his years on the pitch," said Vale boss Andy Crosby.

"That comes as a result of the elite environments he has already experienced with Tottenham and England."

Devine becomes the third player to arrive in Burslem on a season-long loan from the top flight, following defender Kofi Balmer (Crystal Palace) and midfielder Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United).

"It's testament to the progress the club is making on and off the pitch that top clubs are now trusting us with their best young talent," added Crosby.

Vale also made eight other signings this summer, goalkeepers Connor Ripley and Jayson Leutwiler, defenders Mitch Clark and Alex Iacovitti and Jason Lowe - and midfielders Ethan Chislett, Conor Grant and Tom Sang.

After being thrashed 7-0 at Barnsley on the opening day of the season, Vale have since settled down to pick up seven points out of a possible nine from their next three games, as well as reaching the second round of the EFL Cup to book next Tuesday night's home derby tie against Crewe.

Devine, who began his youth career with Liverpool, is the son of a former rugby league player, Sean Devine, who played for St Helens.

In January 2021, he made history when he became the youngest-ever Spurs player at 16 years and 163 days, coming on as a substitute to score on Merseyside in their 5-0 FA Cup third round win at Marine.

He has made one further Spurs appearance, also in the FA Cup third round in the 1-0 win over Portsmouth, in January 2023 - and he played for England in this summer's Under-20 World Cup.

[themaclad]

Port Vale have signed striker Ryan Loft from fellow League One club Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the Valiants.

Loft scored seven goals in 57 appearances in an 18-month spell with Rovers after joining from Scunthorpe United.

"He adds a different profile to the strikers we currently have in our squad," manager Andy Crosby told the club website.

[themaclad]

Port Vale have signed defender Jesse Debrah on a two-year contract.

The London-born 22-year-old left FC Halifax Town during the summer but the non-league outfit are entitled to a compensation fee, which will be decided by a tribunal after the two clubs were unable to agree a deal.

Debrah spent pre-season with Barnsley but a move to Oakwell fell through and he has since been training with Vale.

The centre-back was on Charlton's youth books and later joined Millwall.

After leaving the Lions in 2020, he joined Dulwich Hamlet before a two-year spell at Halifax, where he rejected a contract offer after the end of last season.

"I am delighted that Jesse is now officially a Port Vale player," Vale boss Andy Crosby told the club website.

"He has been in and around the team for a few weeks now and he has already cemented himself as a positive person around the changing room with an infectious personality.

"We're looking forward to seeing him develop further into the player he wants to be and what we believe he can become."

[themaclad]

Port Vale have re-signed striker Uche Ikpeazu on a short-term contract.

Ikpeazu, 28, who was with Konyaspor in Turkey last season, has signed for the League One side at least until the end of the 2023-24 season.

The Bedford-born player, who began his career with Watford, was first with Vale back in the first half of the 2015-16 season when he scored six times on loan from Vicarage Road.

He also had three separate loan spells with local rivals Crewe Alexandra.

The target man, who was available as a free agent, arrives back in Burslem at a time when Vale have picked up just one point from their past four league games and scored only once in three.

Ikpeazu also spent time in his Watford days at Doncaster Rovers (loan), and Blackpool (loan) before signing for Cambridge United in 2016, then Hearts in 2018.

He moved to Wycombe Wanderers in 2020, then on to Middlesbrough a year later, but was mostly used off the bench.

After finishing the 2021-22 season on loan at Cardiff City, three times coming off the bench to score, Ikpeazu departed in August 2022 for the Turkish Super League.

[themaclad]

Port Vale striker James Wilson has extended his deal with the club until "at least" the end of the season.

The 28-year-old initially rejected a new contract offered at the end of last season, but then accepted terms for the first half of the 2023-24 campaign.

Wilson has scored three goals in 16 appearances for the Valiants this term.

"James has earned this extension due to his work ethic on and off the pitch," director of football Dave Flitcroft told the club website.

"His drive to maximise his availability before his unfortunate injury is exactly what we wanted to see from him and his work and dedication to his recovery behind the scenes was outstanding."

Wilson suffered an injury in an EFL Trophy game against Newcastle's Under-21s in October and was out for over two months before making a goalscoring return in a 1-1 draw at Wycombe on 23 December.

News of his contract extension was announced ahead of Friday's home League One game against Blackpool.

Wilson first made his name when he scored twice on his Manchester United debut at home to Hull City in the Premier League in May 2014 and later played for Aberdeen and Salford City.

"With the unfortunate impact injury that was suffered against Newcastle United's U21s aside, James has maximised both his training and game availability as much as possible, which was the main challenge given to him upon re-signing with the club in the summer," added manager Andy Crosby.