Harrogate Town sell Reece Smith to League Two Walsall FC for undisclosed fee
Harrogate Town have confirmed the sale of winger Reece Smith to Walsall for an undisclosed transfer fee.
The 24-year-old was the subject of reported interest from both the Saddlers and fellow League Two outfit Oldham this summer, and a deal has eventually been struck with the former after the Sulphurites rejected a couple of earlier bids.
Smith, who only arrived at Wetherby Road from Maidenhead 12 months ago, was one of the few players to emerge from last season’s relegation from the Football League with any real credit having contributed three goals and seven assists in 52 appearances.
Thus, it appeared likely that Town were always going to have a fight on their hands to keep hold of him following their demotion to the sixth tier.
Speculation regarding Smith’s future intensified last week when he did not feature against South Shields despite being named as a substitute, then missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers altogether.
Harrogate boss Simon Weaver stated that the player’s absence was due to him having picked up a minor injury, though he also admitted to the Harrogate Advertiser that it was possible that a “maximum of one more player” could be sold before the start of the upcoming 2026/27 season.
And it seemed inevitable that the man in question would indeed turn out to be Smith when reports materialised on social media stating that a deal had been agreed with Walsall and a medical was due to take place.
It was then announced on Tuesday afternoon that the former Maidenhead attacker had put pen to paper on a three-year contract at the Bescot Stadium, with the option for an additional 12 months.
The departure of arguably their most creative attacking player would have been a significant blow on its own anyway, particularly given the fact that Smith clearly had the potential to keep getting better and better.
But, for him to leave after Town had already lost influential captain Jack Evans and promising young centre-half Chanse Headman will raise serious questions regarding the club’s ability to mount a serious push for promotion from the National League this term.
The new season gets underway on August 8, and although they have added eight new players already, Weaver’s squad looks like it could still do with some bolstering between now and the 2026/27 curtain-raiser at home to Solihull Moors.