Newport County have completed the permanent signing of Matt Baker from Stoke City after both clubs reached a compensation agreement.
The 21-year-old Wales Under-21 international returns to Rodney Parade on a two-year deal after making 32 appearances for the Exiles in League Two last season.
The defenders move to NP19 will mark his third spell in South Wales, having first joined the club on loan back in January 2023.
Baker started his career at Gillingham where he progressed through the youth ranks before completing a move to Stoke City in the summer of 2021, where he captained the Potters' Under-21s in Premier League 2.
Baker qualified for Wales through his Narberth grandmother and captained his country in the Under-17 European Championships against Slovenia and Holland. He also skippered the Under-19s in the Euro qualifiers against Georgia, Norway and Kosovo in 2021.
More recently, Baker has become a mainstay in Matty Jones’ under-21 squad, playing a pivotal part in his side’s recent European Qualifying campaign, before earning a first senior call-up in June.
Speaking after putting pen-to-paper, Baker said: “I'm really happy to be back here at the club, this time on a permanent basis.
“To be back here playing in front of these fans is amazing and I can’t wait to get started.
“Being here on a permanent basis now gives me a chance to build on last season.”
Welcome back to the Exiles, Matty!
