Walsall sign midfielders Okeke and Richards on loan

Jid Okeke made two of his three Stockport County appearances in the Carabao Cup this season

Walsall have signed midfielders Jid Okeke and Rico Richards on season-long loans from Stockport County and Port Vale respectively.

German-born Okeke began his career at FC St Pauli's academy before joining Oldham Athletic's youth set-up and then moving on to Stockport in the summer of 2023.

The 20-year-old has made three appearances for the Hatters, all in the Carabao Cup, and had loan spells with National League North sides Chester, Hereford and South Shields before making eight appearances on loan at National League club Rochdale last season.

Richards, 21, came through both Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion's academy sides, before playing 32 times in all competitions during a loan spell at Vale Park last season.

He signed permanently for the Valiants in June.

"Rico is very athletic, has good quality in the penalty area and he likes to create with his ability to dribble and drive past a player," head coach Mat Sadler told the club website.

"He's a player who I've liked from his West Brom days and his Aston Villa days, he knows all about the club."

On Okeke, Sadler added: "Jid is a very attack-minded wing-back. He can play as left wing-back and a right wing-back, he likes to take his man on and likes to be aggressive in the final third."