Rovers have today announced that they have acquired the services of Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper, Christian Walton, on a season-long loan deal.
The 23-year old, 6’5” shot-stopper, who has played for England’s youth teams, leaves the Seagulls to join his sixth loan club, having previously featured for Bury, Plymouth Argyle, Luton Town, Southend United and Wigan Athletic for two consecutive seasons.
Having emerged from Brighton’s academy, after leaving Plymouth Argyle at the age of 17, the ‘keeper played 4 times, in total for his parent club, keeping 2 clean sheets, both of which were in the Championship. Ironically, the second of Walton’s 3 2014-15 Championship appearances, came against Rovers, at the AMEX Stadium, where a second-half Rudy Gestede header, scuppered Walton’s chances of a clean sheet, as the equaliser saw the game end at 1-1, following Gary Gardner’s first-half strike.
Despite arriving at Ewood Park temporarily, following the departure of David Raya to Brentford, earlier on in the window, Walton arrives with a season of experience in the second-tier under his belt, following his spell at Wigan Athletic during the 2018-19 campaign just gone.
With Walton firmly secured as Rovers’ fourth signing of the summer, Rovers and Tony Mowbray will be hoping they can reinforce the defence in-front of the newly borrowed ‘keeper, as well as potentially bringing in another shot-stopper, to increase the competition on Jayson Leutwiler, whilst allowing Andy Fisher to go out on loan for the campaign.
