Swindon Town Football Club has confirmed the signing of former AFC Wimbledon midfielder James Ball on a two-year deal, as reported by Yahoo Sports. The 29-year-old midfielder joins Swindon Town after helping Wimbledon secure promotion from League Two via the playoffs.
Swindon Town have been swift in bolstering their squad this summer, with Ball becoming their third new signing. The club has also secured the services of midfielders Tom Nichols and Darren Oldaker, in addition to new deals for Joel McGregor and Paul Glatzel. These signings aim to strengthen a team that finished 12th in the league last season.
According to Yahoo Sports, James Ball has made over 300 career appearances and has played in almost every midfield role. His experience spans across various clubs, including Bolton Wanderers, Stockport County, and Wimbledon. At six foot two inches tall, Ball will add a physical presence to Swindon Town’s midfield, alongside contributing to the team’s wealth of experience.
Upon signing, Ball expressed his excitement about joining Swindon Town, stating: “I’m buzzing to join a club with the ambition and fanbase of Swindon Town. I’m here to help the team push up the table and fight for promotion.” As quoted by Yahoo Sports, Ball praised Swindon Town’s manager, Ian Holloway, for selling him on the club’s vision, saying, “He told me about his ambitions for the club this season and the project for the future, and I could see the improvement when he took over last season and his influence was massive.”
The signing of James Ball provides Swindon Town with positional flexibility, having played in attacking midfield, defensive midfield, and centre defence throughout his career. Yahoo Sports reports that Ball’s defensive work rate makes him well-suited to Ian Holloway’s side, with statistics showing that he won 73.3 per cent of his tackles last season, ranking in the 81st percentile.
Swindon Town’s manager, Ian Holloway, emphasized the importance of signing players who are genuinely interested in joining the club, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Holloway stated, “Today, everything is about how much they want to be here. Then you have got people for the right reasons, not the wrong reasons.” The manager’s focus on creating a positive team dynamic and signing players who share his vision will be crucial in Swindon Town’s pursuit of promotion this season. With James Ball on board, Swindon Town is poised to make a strong challenge in the upcoming season.
Source link
