| Rhys Walters | |
| Fullname: | Rhys Anthony Walters[1] |
| Birth Date: | 18 November 2005[2] |
| Birth Place: | Wolverhampton, England |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 2015–2022 |
| Youthclubs1: | Port Vale |
| Years1: | 2022–2024 |
| Caps1: | 11 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2023 |
| Clubs2: | → Leek Town (loan) |
| Caps2: | 4 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 13:27, 27 April 2024 (UTC) |
Rhys Anthony Walters is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He came through the academy at Port Vale and played on loan at Leek Town.
At nine, Walters joined the youth set-up at Port Vale.[3] He made his first-team debut at the age of sixteen on 18 October 2022, coming on for Mipo Odubeko 89 minutes into a 2–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 in an EFL Trophy group stage game at Vale Park.[4] On 4 March 2023, he joined Northern Premier League Division One West club Leek Town on a work experience loan agreement until the end of the 2022–23 season.[5]
Walters made his first start for Port Vale on 29 August 2023, in a 0–0 draw with Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the EFL Cup; he was substituted on 57 minutes, going on to win the man of the match award.[6] Seven days later, he played his first full 90 minutes for the club in a 1–0 victory against the same opponents in a group stage game of the EFL Trophy, where he was paired in the centre of midfield with the experienced Jason Lowe.[7] He provided the assist for Josh Thomas to score the first goal in a 2–1 win over Sutton United in the third round of the EFL Cup on 26 September.[8] He was named as man of the match in the EFL Trophy tie with Newcastle United U21 on 10 October.[9] Speaking the following month, manager Andy Crosby said that "his performances have gradually improved with the more experience he gets", but that he needed to find an "aggressive edge".[10] However a contract was left unsigned due to objections from the player's agent.[11] In April 2024, new manager Darren Moore said that "we feel though he is at a level where he can contribute to the team".[12] He picked up a foot injury in the last game of the 2023–24 season.[13] Contract talks had remained at a stalemate since the start of the year.[14]
Walters is a midfielder with good vision.[13]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Port Vale | 2022–23 | EFL League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | EFL League One | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Total | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |||
| Leek Town (loan) | 2022–23[15] | Northern Premier League Division One West | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |||