Sources: Fleetwood Town agree Josh Vela deal after breakthrough
Fleetwood have agreed a deal to sign Shrewsbury Town midfielder Josh Vela on a free transfer, Football Insider understands.
The 28-year-old is leaving the Shropshire outfit at the end of June when his contract expires.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Fleetwood have won the race for Vela’s signature ahead of a number of other EFL clubs.
Vela was a key figure for Shrewsbury in League One during the 2021-22 season, notching two goals and two assists in 36 third-tier outings.
Salop confirmed (1 June) that the midfielder was poised to sign a two-year deal with the club after agreeing terms with manager Steve Cotterill last month.
However, Vela has now completed a dramatic U-turn and looks poised to join Scott Brown’s Fleetwood side as they bid to pull clear of relegation danger in 2022-23.
Born in Salford, the central midfielder came through the ranks at Bolton and made 182 appearances for the club in the seven years after making his debut in April 2012.
The 28-year-old also has experience in Scotland, having played for Hibernian during the 2019-20 campaign.
Vela is vastly experienced both in the Championship and League One, having made over 100 appearances in both divisions.
The former Notts County loanee scooped Shrewsbury’s Supporters’ Player and Players’ Player of the Season awards after his dependable performances in the 2020-21 campaign.
Fleetwood finished outside League One’s bottom four on goal difference during the 2021-22 season.
New boss Brown has already completed the signing of St Johnstone right-back Shaun Rooney, 25, this summer.
In other news, League One side racing Huddersfield to sign non-league colossus.