Rochdale AFC signs James Ball

James Ball

Rochdale AFC announced one final signing in the January transfer window late last night. Midfielder James Ball has joined the club from National League team Solihull Moors.

The 26-year-old midfielder has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

“It has been quite a stressful day, but it’s finally over the line and I’m delighted to be here,” said Ball. 

“It’s a great club that was in League One last year and the aspiration is to get back there. For me, my aspiration is to play as high as I can, so if we can do that together then it’ll be a great match. 

“I always wanted to get back into the football league - I had a brief stint with Stevenage, so now I’m here I want to show everybody what I can do.”

Ball started his career at his hometown club Bolton Wanderers and had loan spells at Hyde United, Northwich Victoria and Stalybridge Celtic during his time there. 

After leaving Wanderers, he went on to join Stockport County in 2016, where he made 74 appearances and scored 14 goals.

From there, he earned a move into the Football League with Stevenage.

A move to Ebbsfleet Town followed, and after playing in all 14 of Fleet’s matches in the opening two months of the 2019/20 campaign, he was snapped up by fellow National League side Moors. 

Last season he finished as the club’s joint top goal scorer, scoring eleven goals in all competitions. 

Manager Robbie Stockdale is delighted to have secured Ball’s services: “James is another player of good experience but at the right age.

“Like I said at the very start of this transfer window, I wanted to change the dynamics of this squad a little bit and give some of our younger players a bit more experience and little knowledge around them, and I’m really pleased with how January has gone. 

“James will bring physicality, strength and power, and he can score goals. But he can also play in several positions, so he’s very versatile in how he plays.”