Josh Wilson-Esbrand to Stoke City transfer - 'Exciting to watch' left-back reunites with Mark Robins
Josh Wilson-Esbrand made his introduction to Stoke City supporters in the final game that fans were allowed in to watch before lockdown.
A 1,400-strong following headed up to Man City for an under-18s Premier League Cup final, when Wilson-Esbrand was in a star-studded home side alongside Liam Delap, captain Cole Palmer, James McAtee and Oscar Bobb. They ended up blowing away Stoke in a brutal 15-minute spell in the second half.
Wilson-Esbrand, now aged 22, went on to get his first taste of men's football at Coventry under Mark Robins, being used as a left-sided defender and also on the left of midfield. He joined in January 2023 - later described as Robins' "number one target" in that role - and was pretty regularly involved as Coventry reached the Championship play-off final, losing to Luton in a penalty shoot-out.
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A little patience was needed in that first loan spell but by the spring, Coventry reporter Andy Turner was writing: "JWE is a talented lad, there is no doubt, and he’s finally starting to blossom. There are still improvements to be made to the defensive side of his game but, going forward, he was exciting to watch and confident on the ball, going past opponents with his tricky feet and getting decent balls into the box."
Wilson-Esbrand went on to spend the first half of last season at Reims in the French top flight and the second at Cardiff in the Championship, where his stay was curtailed by a hamstring injury.
So far this term he has been back at Man City, being named in the Champions League squad by Pep Guardiola. The former England youth defender had been given special attention by Guardiola in pre-season about his positioning going forward.
Guardiola had said previously: "The problem with Josh is the last two years he was injured most of the time in the muscular and we believe he has the potential. He's so aggressive to win the duels and with the ball is so so clever.
"The guy has a good one-v-one, doesn't feel the pressure in the ball. How much our back four will press, he didn't lose many balls. He did a really good game. If we can control him and avoid injuries we can have a full-back for many years."
Robins has made his move now as Stoke are expected to be without left-back Eric Bocat until at least the end of February due to a calf injury. Enda Stevens put in a star performance in a draw with West Brom at the weekend but has struggled to be consistently available over the last 18 months.
Stoke are allowed five players in a match day squad in the Championship and Wilson-Esbrand joins Ashley Phillips (Tottenham), Andrew Moran (Brighton) and Lewis Koumas (Liverpool) following the recall of Tom Cannon by Leicester. There is still scope to add one more and Robins and Jon Walters are expected to utilise that before the end of the transfer window.
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