Vale sign right-back John on one-year deal

Kyle John never made an Everton first team appearance in his six years on their books

Port Vale have signed right-back Kyle John on a one-year deal ahead of the new League Two season.

After being released by boyhood club Everton at the end of June, the 23-year-old becomes Vale's 12th summer signing in a busy window for Darren Moore's side.

"He is energetic, he is combative and possesses good quality on the ball," said Moore.

Vale, relegated from League One in April, kick off the new campaign with a trip to Salford City.

Analysis - BBC Radio Stoke's Phil Bowers on Vale's hopes for 2024-25

If there's anything Port Vale fans have come to expect, it's a rebuild. And here we are with another one, this time spearheaded by Darren Moore.

Only one Vale manager has completed a full season in charge since Rob Page left in 2016, that was Darrell Clarke in 2021-22. Vale fans are well used to seeing someone completely different in the dug-out from the start of the previous season.

A disastrous campaign and relegation demands a quick response. And Moore has done that with his signings, of which convincing George Byers to drop two levels from Sheffield Wednesday is the most eye-catching.

Paying fees for Lorent Tolaj, Ruari Paton and Jayden Stockley should solve a woeful goal-scoring record, as should getting highly-rated youngster Baylee Dipepa to sign a new deal. Keeping last season's top scorers Ben Garrity and Ethan Chislett is just as important.

That's not to say it's all been plain sailing. There are still question marks at full-back, where Mitch Clark will miss the start of the season, and Sam Hart is the only real left-back on the books. Neither Dan Jones nor Tom Sang are natural replacements.

Pre-season has also been bitty, with defeats by Bath City and Burton Albion characterised by some defensive issues. Some of the forward play has looked good, particularly through Ronan Curtis, but they must tighten up at the back.

On paper, Vale should be in the automatic promotion shake-up and potentially the title race. But in reality Moore's new-look team may take some time to gel, and that could lead to a slow start.