- Sam Tickle commits long-term future to Wigan Athletic
- Tickle has signed a new four-year deal at the Brick Community Stadium
- The England U21 international won the Club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards last term
Wigan Athletic have announced Sam Tickle has penned a new four-year contract at the football club.
The England U21 international has committed his long-term future to Latics with the goalkeeper’s new contract set to run until the summer of 2028.
Tickle is a proud product of the Heatable Wigan Athletic Academy, having joined the football club in 2013. He has impressed immensely throughout his rise up the ranks, first making his professional debut against Crewe Alexandra in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy in October 2021.
The last 12 months have been a real whirlwind for the Latics goalkeeper as, following his Championship debut on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign, Tickle hasn’t looked back and has grown from strength to strength ever since.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season at the Brick Community Stadium in 2023/24, keeping 18 clean sheets in 52 appearances across all four competitions.
The ever-present, rising star deservedly scooped two prizes at the annual end-of-season awards dinner, having been voted by supporters as the club’s 45th Player of the Year, and the Players’ Player of the Year by his teammates.
Tickle became the first goalkeeper to be named the supporters’ Player of the Year since Ali Al Habsi in 2010/11, and only the fourth stopper to claim the accolade since the club’s election into the Football League in 1978.
Enjoying a year to remember, he also earned international honours, winning his first England U21s cap against Luxembourg back in March. To the delight of the Latics supporters in attendance, Tickle earned another clean sheet at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in a 7-0 triumph.
A highly rated goalkeeper, who has an extremely bright future ahead of him, Tickle has put pen to paper on a new long-term deal at the Brick Community Stadium
Tickle said: “I’m over the moon to sign a new contract. It’s a really proud moment for me and my family.
“It means a lot. This has been my home since I was young, and to extend my stay here is special.”
Chairman Ben Goodburn added: “Sam has established himself as one of the best young goalkeepers in the EFL over the last 12 months, so it’s a real statement of intent that he’s committed his long-term future with us.
“He is another example of the excellent pathway our club offers from the academy to the professional ranks, and it is clear to see Sam is a young man with an exciting future.”
First-team manager Shaun Maloney said: “We’re thrilled that Sam has decided to extend his contract with Wigan Athletic for the next four years.
“Sam had an excellent first full season with us last year, keeping 18 clean sheets and becoming the first homegrown Latics player to make his England U21 debut since Leighton Baines.
“His attitude – both on and off the field – has been exemplary. Sam is an outstanding young talent and we’re looking forward to working with him over the next few years to help continue his development.”
Sporting Director, Gregor Rioch also echoed the Club’s delight: “Sam has been with Wigan Athletic since he was nine years old and to watch him progress as one of the best young English goalkeepers in the EFL in the last year has been a personal highlight for me and for our academy staff who have worked with him for over a decade.
“He’s a phenomenal goalkeeper with the potential and desire to play at the very top, and we’re delighted that he’s committed his long-term future with us.”