2026-27 Recruitment Plan for York City

Player Decisions

Retain

Harrison Male, Ryan Fallowfield, Mark Kitching, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Alex Hunt, Ollie Pearce, Josh Stones, Joe Grey, Ben Brookes, Jeff King, Ollie Banks, Morgan Williams, Alex Newby

Release

Callum Howe, Dan Batty, Greg Olley, George Sykes-Kenworthy, Ash Palmer, Tyrese Sinclair, Rory Watson, Ashley Nathaniel-George, Mo Fadera, Cameron John, Tyler Cordner, Paddy McLaughlin, Ricky Aguiar, Leone Gravata, Darragh O’Connor

Loan End

Zak Johnson

Loan Out

Craig Hewitt, Joe Felix

Retained Squad

New Signings

Ben Amos (Port Vale – free)

Harrison Male is the undisputed #1 for The Minstermen, and will again take the starting jersey with The Minstermen. Going into 2026-27, I think that they could do with adding a more experienced goalkeeper as understudy to Male and act as a bit of a mentor. The option that I would look at is Ben Amos. 

Amos is now 36 years of age, and has already started to be phased out of the Valiants first-team in favour of younger options. I think that he is at the stage of his career whereby he may well favour more of a #2 role and where he is able to manage his minutes, and joining The Minstermen to being Male’s back-up certainly seems a logical next step for the experienced goalkeeper. 

One of the key reasons as to why I think that Ben Amos would make for a sensible addition to The Minstermen’s squad is due to his experience, and the fact that he is the ideal player for Harrison Male to learn off. Male is 25 years of age and has never played in the Football League, while understudy George Sykes-Kenworthy is also untested at the level. Even if he doesn’t play that many games, Amos has ‘been there and done it’ with promotions at Port Vale and Wigan Athletic in the Football League. In his mid-30’s. Having played just under 400 games. A very reliable pair of hands. 

Successful changing rooms are built on strong characters and experience, and in the same way that The Minstermen have had the likes of Callum Howe and Ryan Fallowfield have been so instrumental in the role that they play – perhaps not as a first-choice – but in supporting the group then I think a player of Amos’ experience and knowledge of League Two will be invaluable. Amos himself is a good goalkeeper and has forged out a strong career in the Football League, and so I feel he represents a good option for City. 

It may not be the flashy option for The Minstermen in terms of being a starter or a long-term project for Stuart Maynard, however I think that is the sort of signing that could have a bigger impact on the first-team dressing room and in ensuring they have got the experience within the group to go and be competitive.

Terell Thomas (Carlisle United – free)

One area in which I feel that The Minstermen may need to address during the summer is their physicality. As Bromley have shown this season, the teams that are the most physically adept often tend to do well. One option I think they could look at as a possible signing – especially in the event that his team are not promoted in the play-offs – is Carlisle United’s Terrell Thomas. 

For quite a few in this City side, they are either new to the EFL or have very limited experience of it, and so I feel that signing some experience is definitely worthwhile. Thomas is 30 years of age, has just under 300 professional appearances under his belt of which the majority of those have been in the Football League and so he definitely represents a ‘tried and tested’ option. He might not be the flashiest of customers, but having players who have ‘been there and done it’ and have shown they can comfortably handle the physicality of the league is key. 

In terms of the type of centre-back that Thomas is, he is a physically imposing, industrious, no-nonsense, box defender. While Malachi Fagan-Walcott has been a really classy customer this term with his ball-progression from deep, I do think that there is a lot of value having the antithesis to that in someone that is going to be aggressive in their defending and stepping out to engage opposition players. Thomas is by no means as polished with the ball as Fagan-Walcott, but he is someone who isn’t going to take risks.

As York City make the step up into the Football League, I think there is a lot to be said for defenders that don’t take many risks in possession. They have got the quality in an attacking sense to win games, and so if they are to do that on a regular basis then having your ‘8 out of 10’ types that can provide you with such a strong platform to go and win games is so important to ensure they recruit. 

With the quality of Ben Brookes down the left-hand side being able to get forward and contribute in an attacking sense, I can see Stuart Maynard changing to a three at times. Physically, I think that Brookes might just fall short whereas his technical quality is superb, and so to give him the platform in a physical division to go and do that then they may free him up with that subtle tactical tweak. If they do, I feel Thomas could be a good option in the heart of the backline as the one stepping out. 

He is out of contract at the end of the campaign with Carlisle United, and so The Minstermen might well be able to steal a march on him. He may not win any awards for style, but in terms of substance and a no-nonsense defender I think he could be worth a look.

Zak Johnson (Sunderland – free)

The second name that is going to need little in the way of an introduction to York City fans as a prospective signing is Zak Johnson. He finished the campaign with The Minstermen on loan, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him make it a permanent move to The LNER Stadium. 

Johnson worked with boss Stuart Maynard prior to joining the club – together at Notts County – and so it wasn’t a surprise when the defender signed for The Minstermen during the campaign in truth. He has been a regular in the City lineup since signing 

One of the advantages that you get – I feel – in signing a player of Johnson’s profile is that he can play in a three and a four. Equally comfortable in a partnership or playing left of the back three, and someone that can play as a centre-back or as a full-back. 

He ticks a number of the boxes that you would look for in a prospective signing – his age, his experience, his composure in playing out, the fact he has had a good technical grounding in his youth out of a top academy – and so he is a sensible option. The consensus is that he will indeed make a return during the summer, and so I expect to see this happen as a formality for The Minstermen.

Miguel Freckleton (St Mirren – free)

The third centre-back that I have picked out as part of this piece is one that I have been a long time admirer of, and who I think would represent a smart acquisition on a permanent deal; St Mirren defender Miguel Freckleton. 

When looking at a potential fit for a player, you have to assess the side and club into which he is going, and I think that Freckleton would provide that for The Minstermen for a number of reasons. He has played under Stuart Maynard before when the then young defender was on loan at Wealdstone. After that, he signed for Yeovil Town as one of the first signings under Matt Uggla in the season that he looked to try and take over The Glovers. During that spell, he played alongside City defender Morgan Williams. As such, he has already got quite a few connections on which he might be able to draw to navigate this deal.

One of the main reasons as to why I have put The Minstermen down to sign three centre-backs is to ensure that they have got cover. They operate with a three, and so having the depth of central options to cover that is going to be important. In terms of long-term planning, I think that there is also a realistic possibility that youngster Malachi Fagan-Walcott could get a move in January if he keeps up the rate of his development and takes to the Football League as many expect he will, and so signing an additional centre-back in advance is going to be key. 

The Minstermen have been a joy to watch this season with some of their football, and so I do feel that one of the centre-backs that they sign has to be fairly proficient in possession and capable of passing out. He is comfortable on the ball. He couples that technical quality with his physical attributes standing at 6ft 4in. He provides real balance as a left-footer. Fairly quick, and mobile across the ground. Comfortable defending wide. 

The young defender is only 22 years of age, has had good experience of first-team football – including in League Two – and has shown steady progression over the course of the last 12-18 months. As a bit of a long-term project and the type of player that they can develop and improve going forward, I feel that he would be worth a look.

Conor Thomas (Crewe Alexandra – free)

The Minstermen have got some good technicians in their side, but one thing that I am intrigued to see next year is how youngster Alex Hunt handles the step up into League Two. I think that he will do alright given his talent, but I do feel they could benefit from adding a more physically imposing and industrious midfield profile to go alongside. A presence. A tackler. The type that can ‘knit everything together’. 

He is on the books at Crewe Alexandra at the time of writing, and finished the campaign having played just under 30 times for The Railwaymen in the league. He is a good size at 6ft2 in, and is a powerful, rangy midfielder. An intelligent player that breaks up play, keeps the ball ticking and makes clever use of the possession. He is more so a defensively-minded midfielder sitting in front of the backline. 

Thomas is out of contract with Crewe Alexandra at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, and so he is available for City to sign. He is 30 years of age, and has previously won League Two. Having another experienced profile in the group can only be an advantage. He has played just over 450 games in his professional career, and so he offers The Minstermen another ‘tried and tested’ option. He has played the majority of his career in League Two, and so he is more than capable of handling the physicality and expectation. 

Given the technical quality that The Railwaymen have in their side, Thomas is a player that doesn’t always gets the plaudits that he should do and is quite a quiet customer. Someone that just goes about their business. Crewe Alexandra are set up to play in a 3-5-2 and so when they’re attacking Thomas has to defend large spaces when he is playing, and so he is not often preferred. In terms of being a physical presence in the centre of the park and an intelligent operator in a double pivot – as City employ – I think he can offer real value. 

He is likely to not be short of offers if he does opt to leave Crewe Alexandra, but I feel that he is the type of signing that could be a really astute piece of business for The Minstermen. I am a huge fan of his, and I think that he would complement City’s existing options quite well.

Harrison Jones (Sunderland – loan)

The second midfielder that I would look at if I were The Minstermen is Sunderland youngster Harrison Jones. City haven’t really made use of the loan market during 2025-26, yet that is an avenue in which I expect them to take greater advantage of next season. If so, I feel Jones could be an option to look at. 

As a player, Jones is a creative, forward-thinking, attacking midfielder that looks to play forward. He is a really nice profile for a midfielder as a left-footed operator, with a delicate weight of pass, technically strong, and an eye for a goal. A lovely energy to press from the front and carry the ball from deep. He has had a few outings for Sunderland in the first-team, and has captained Sunderland Under-21 side 

Whilst merely a subplot to this suggestion, one of the potential advantages as to why Harrison Jones could be interested in this deal is that the youngster was born in York and so he has got a tie to the city. 

The young Black Cat is extremely highly-rated within Sunderland circles, and at 21 years of age I think that he needs to get out and play minutes at first-team level. That opportunity is unlikely to come on a regular basis with Sunderland first-team, and so if he wants to get experience of a first-team environment then The Minstermen could well be the right level at which to pitch him. 

He is out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, albeit The Black Cats retain an option of an extra year and so if The Minstermen are to sign him then they would likely have to pay a fee if they want to get him on a permanent deal. While The Black Cats have perhaps outgrown where Harrison Jones’ game is at, I feel that they may well look to extend his form with the club to ensure that they retain interest in a highly-rated young player with a bright future. I can quite see him signing extended forms at The Stadium of Light and going out on loan, and if so then The Minstermen should be in for his services. 

John McAtee (Bolton Wanderers – fee)

While Ollie Pearce has played much of the season in behind Josh Stones, I think that there is scope for The Minstermen to sign a #10 that can provide that extra creativity at the tip of midfield. I am not expecting City to take the summer lightly, and so I anticipate a few marquee signings. One player that would definitely fall into that category is John McAtee. 

McAtee is currently on the books at Bolton Wanderers, albeit he has not always been a starting pick for The Trotters under Steven Schumacher. I think that the attacking midfielder is too talented a player to be sitting on the bench, and so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him look at potential options to go and sign somewhere else and pursue a new challenge during the summer. 

With The Minstermen having played a 3-4-2-1 system with a box midfield and two number #10’s under Stuart Maynard, I feel that McAtee is capable of playing in any of the front four positions. He is best playing as an attacking midfielder where he has got the freedom to drift, pick up clever positions and make himself an option to always receive the ball. 

The former Grimsby Town man is incredibly technical, with good close control, quick feet and quite a balletic ball-carrier in progressing the ball from deep and going on his trademark mazy runs. He is capable of making clever runs beyond the play off the backline of the opposition, and he picks up good pockets of space in which to get on the turn. 

If The Minstermen are able to land him in League Two, I think that it would be a major coup on their part. You can expect that City will be ambitious in the market in trying to put together a squad that is capable of competing at the top end of the division and making it back-to-back promotions, and McAtee is the calibre of signing that would definitely help them to achieve that. He is the type of signing that would make a real statement of their intent.

Aaron Nemane (MK Dons – free)

One area that I think The Minstermen could improve their side is in the wide areas, and in particular adding some speed. One player that has impressed me when I have seen him and who Stuart Maynard knows well having managed him before is Aaron Nemane. 

While Nemane has played regularly for MK Dons in 2025-26, I don’t think that the former Notts County man is the right stylistic long-term candidate. They don’t operate with out-and-out wingers, with Nemane having been deployed in more of a wing-back role. As they step up into League One, I think that Nemane may well be one that is allowed to leave the club given that they will be defending against better players. When you add into the mix that they have Gethin Jones and Kane Wilson to come back in, I see Nemane being on the fringes next term. 

In terms of his profile, Nemane is a direct winger with blistering speed, trickery and the low centre of gravity in changing direction quickly. While The Minstermen have been a good passing side in 2025-26, I feel that they have definitely missed that profile that can play on the last line of the opposition and provide that running behind. He is at his most effective when he is capable of isolating full-backs, working space to drive into and carrying the ball direct-to-goal. There aren’t many better players of his profile in the league. 

While The Minstermen have set up predominantly in a 3-4-2-1 box formation under Stuart Maynard with two #6’s and two #10’s, I feel that we will see City opt a 4-2-3-1 times. The reason for that – I feel – is they have got some good wingers in the form of Alex Newby and Joe Grey that they can get the best out of, while that formation in general is – I would say – both a) easier to recruit for and b) more often than not successful in League Two.

Since Barnet went to the Football League, they have since gone away from the 3-4-2-1 that served them so well in their promotion campaign. Indeed, I find that most of the better teams opt to go with a four, and so whilst The Minstermen have got success setting up in a three then having the flexibility to go with a four is incredibly useful for Maynard. Signing more of an out-and-out winger in Nemane would help to facilitate this.

Indeed, I feel that Nemane offers a different dimension. That outlet in behind. The type of player City can feed the ball into on the shoulder and get him to drive into space. Quite a lot of City’s play is into feet, and yet having that little bit more unorthodox, dynamic profile at the top end of the pitch that can play off the cuff and be a threat in transition is incredibly useful. 

Paul Warne has got a strong squad at his disposal with a lot of depth, and so if they are to add to it during the summer ahead of League One then he may well want to try and trim the squad by letting a few players go. For a York City side that have a greater emphasis on getting the ball down and playing, I think it would be a good fit for him. Even if he is under contract next season, I believe that he could be a good investment for The Minstermen as a long-term asset for Maynard’s side.

Mo Faal (Wrexham – loan)

I have been particularly impressed by the way in which young Josh Stones has developed into being a #9 that is capable of leading the line this season. Looking subjectively at it, I think that The Minstermen may well still try to add a physical #9 to the mix to complement what they have got. A different dimension. Good competition for Stones. A player with the size and stature to occupy defenders. 

One player that I think they could look at is Mo Faal. Faal finished the season on loan at Cheltenham Town, albeit didn’t feature that often during his loan spell with The Robins and only scored the single goal. 

In terms of the type of striker that York City would be looking for, Faal is a physically imposing forward with a large frame. Good aerially, capable with his back-to-goal, powerful, industrious in his work-rate and willingness to hold the ball up. He offers a physicality and a presence in attacking and defending set-pieces. 

He is contracted to Wrexham until the end of the 2026-27 campaign, but I think that the chances of him being given game time in the Championship having already been deemed surplus to requirements this year are rather slim. It wouldn’t surprise me if The Red Dragons are actually willing to let him leave the club on a permanent deal as they have definitely outgrown or surpassed where Faal’s level is at this stage of his career. 

The youngster has had an underwhelming 2025-26, but I would be confident that he can – if fit – be a good player for the level.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi (Fulham – loan)

The second striker that I would look at if I were The Minstermen is Fulham youngster Aaron Loupalo-Bi. He finished the campaign on loan at League Two side Walsall, and so he represents a sensible option for City to sign upon their return to the Football League. 

One attribute that I feel City could do with adding is some speed off the shoulder of the last line. They have a player in Ollie Pearce’s whose first thought is often to drop slightly deeper almost as an attacking midfielder in which to link the play with his intelligence in the final third, while Josh Stones has really developed into the role as a reference #9 well. However, to ensure that their attack is well-rounded and has a nice range of skillsets, signing more of a runner with pace to burn, agility and clever movement would be welcomed. 

Loupalo-Bi is a young player that has particularly impressed at the top end of the pitch for Fulham with his all-action, high-energy striker that has got powerful running and has a good engine in wanting to stretch the opposition. He is a little bit unpolished, but his willingness to make runs and get involved in the play is good. 

The youngster may well want to try and test himself a level up as the next logical step in his development, but I personally feel that he needs to go out and have another season in League Two in which to continue his physical development. Despite having been hugely impressive in the youth team with Fulham, he has failed to properly translate into the first-team with The Saddlers; a return of one goal in 15 is hardly anything to write home about. He has still got a lot to learn, and I think that another loan at the level could well be beneficial.

The Cottagers academy product has got the physical attributes that you look for, and the next step for him is in refining the quality of the end product. That final pass or final action. The decision-making. Taking that extra touch when he doesn’t have to, and being a little sharper in his final execution under pressure. To me, he has still looked a little bit like a youth striker playing in men’s football, and so this would be a bit of a project for Stuart Maynard; I would also retain confidence that he could do better in his second loan spell as so many young strikers often do. 

He got rave reviews in the youth team with Fulham, and I am confident that there is still very much a talented player. Personally, I think that the system that The Minstermen employ will get the best out of him where perhaps The Saddlers’ direct and aerial build-up perhaps didn’t play to his strengths. Get him playing more centrally between the posts on the last line and maybe off of another more physical striker, I feel that the youngster can be a success.