Walsall sign Chang, Lipsiuc and Harrison on loan

Alfie Chang made his Birmingham City debut in a League Cup tie against Fulham in 2021

League Two leaders Walsall have made three deadline-day signings, bringing in MK Dons striker Ellis Harrison and midfielders Alfie Chang from Birmingham City and Darius Lipsiuc from Stoke City, all three on loan for the rest of the season.

Chang, 22, has made 21 appearances for Blues, but suffered a serious knee injury in 2023 and has only played once this season, as a substitute in their 2-1 FA Cup win over Lincoln City in January.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Lipsiuc, 19, who began his career at his local club St Mochta's before moving to St Patrick's in the summer of 2021, made his debut for Stoke as a late substitute in the Carabao Cup against Fleetwood Town in September.

Harrison, 31, has scored five times for MK this season, the last of them in November - his 100th career goal, having also netted for Bristol Rovers, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Fleetwood and Walsall's League Two promotion rivals Port Vale.

His late arrival, just before the official 23:00 GMT deadline, takes Saddlers boss Mat Sadler's total of signings in this window to seven, of which Harrison is the third striker to arrive.

Walsall, who lost top scorer Nathan Lowe back to parent club Stoke City in early January, have also brought in Manchester United youngster Ethan Wheatley and big Bromley target man Levi Amantchi.

"Ellis is a fantastic athlete," said Sadler. "He's got a real hunger to score goals, as he has done throughout his career. He is one we have been working away on for a good period of time now and one we have had to be patient with.

"Alfie had a fantastic start to his career at Birmingham, played lots of games in the Championship for them a couple of years ago. He's a very tidy football player and brings quality in forward areas.

"Darius is an all-action, powerful midfield player. He wants to run, wants to work hard. We had Darius in for a few days a couple of weeks ago so I got to see him first hand."

All three are in contention to make their debut for Walsall in Saturday's game at Colchester. The Saddlers are seven points clear at the top despite taking only one point from their past three games.