Tranmere Rovers have signed midfielder Will Vaulks on a two-year deal, bringing back a player who spent his youth career with the club. Vaulks joins from Oxford United, where he played 88 games and scored two goals. The 32-year-old midfielder will now join Tranmere, who are in League Two, on a two-year deal.
What happened?
Will Vaulks has left Oxford United to re-join Tranmere Rovers, the club where he spent his youth career. The 32-year-old midfielder joined United in 2024 and played 88 games for the club, scoring two goals. His last goal for the club came in the final home game of last season, a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. On 14 January 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 league draw away against Plymouth Argyle.
Why it matters for Tranmere
Tranmere boss, and former Bristol Rovers and Barnsley manager, Darrell Clarke added: "We’re delighted to bring Will back to the football club. He’s had an excellent career, playing a lot of football at Championship level, and he brings real experience, leadership and quality into the middle of the pitch. He knows what the club means to the people of the Wirral and he understands the standards that are expected here. He’s still got a real hunger to be successful, and his character, professionalism and know-how will be invaluable to the group."
What comes next?
Next fixture: vs Fleetwood Town (at home, 2027-02-27) (23rd in the table). The U's are in the midst of a temporary transfer embargo and will not currently be able to replace the midfielder. As well as his contributions on the pitch, Vaulks was also a pioneer in the Oxfordshire community, using his personal story to establish the award-winning Can We Talk? suicide prevention campaign. He introduced a suicide prevention check-in app for staff, delivered training to employees and supporters, and led workshops across the county, including at RAF Brize Norton. He was nationally and internationally recognised for his campaigning, winning awards including the FIFPRO Player Voice and was recently named PFA Community Player of the Year. Vaulks made seven appearances for Wales, his most recent coming in a 1-1 draw with Czechia in 2022. Upon joining Darrell Clarke's Rovers, Vaulks said: "I’m grateful to be back. I spent 10 years at the club, but never played a first team game, so this is a move that has been on my mind for a number of years now. I really wanted to come back to my boyhood club. I made it clear that I wasn’t going anywhere else, other than to Tranmere, it was the club I wanted to join. I’m a Wirral boy and I can’t wait to give everything for the club.
