Stockport County chose to make a move for Notts County man Kyle Wootton due to him becoming an ‘influential leader’ in the Magpies' dressing room, according to the club’s director of football.
Wootton’s exit from Meadow Lane was confirmed on Thursday, with the 25-year-old signing a three-year deal with Stockport upon the expiry of his contract. After the move was announced the striker took to social media to deliver a heartfelt message to Notts fans.
The move to Stockport means that the player will feature in League Two in the upcoming season following the club’s promotion at the end of 2021/22. He scored a total of 20 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for Notts last season.
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The transfer brings the end of a three year stay at Meadow Lane with Wooton originally joining on loan from Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2019. It’s his development over the last three years that caught the eye of Stockport who took into account the stature of Notts when making the decision to sign the player.
“We welcome Kyle to the club after several strong seasons of performance for Notts County – a club of stature and expectations where he showed year on year improvement and became an influential leader in what was a young dressing room,” director of football Simon Wilson said.
“We feel he has a number of ideal qualities for the way we play, and having spent time with him is a humble and hard-working lad that will fit in well with our group.
“As a striker at 25 he is entering his peak and we look forward to his contribution over the next three seasons as we look to rise the divisions in EFL.”
Manager Dave Challinor also revealed that the club had been watching Wootton for some time before making their move.
“He’s been a long term target for us, so to get this one over the line is brilliant and will undoubtedly strengthen us and complement the strikers we already have at the club,” he said. “ I’m really excited to start working with him and I’m sure he will fit into our group seamlessly and become a favourite at Edgeley Park.”
