Wigan Athletic manager Gary Caldwell claims Connor Barrett will get even better at the Brick Community Stadium after signing from Walsall.
Wing-back Barrett has arrived for an undisclosed fee and has signed a three-year deal, with the option of a further season, to become the League One club’s second summer signing after Max Power.
Barrett, 24, who started out with hometown club Leicester City as a youngster, was named in the League Two Team of the Season in 2024-25 but Caldwell says he has the potential to improve further.
“Connor has shown over the last few years that he can perform consistently, improve quickly and handle the demands of playing week in, week out,” Caldwell told Wigan’s website., external
“He has earned everything in his career so far, coming through the non-league game and establishing himself as one of the stand-out young players in the Football League.
“We believe he has the potential to get even better here and we’re looking forward to helping him take the next step in his career.”
Barrett made 91 appearances for Walsall in two seasons after joining from non-league Fylde.
“With the conversations I’ve had with the gaffer, [chief scout] Joe (Riley) and everyone else, I could feel they [Wigan] wanted me, which is a big thing,” he said.
“With the gaffer and the way he works, it aligned a lot with how I see myself. The ambition he has matches mine and it should be exciting times ahead.”