Woking have sent young defender Kemall Wilson on a season-long loan to Leatherhead. The move was confirmed by the club's official website on Friday.
Wilson made his first-team debut for Woking in their midweek win over Southampton Under-21s. Director of Football Jody Brown said the club wanted to step up the player's development with regular football at a senior level.
Multiple clubs expressed interest in taking Wilson on loan. Leatherhead, managed by former Woking player Ian Selley, won the race. Selley's connection to the club and his side's recent promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division made the move a logical fit. Brown told the Woking FC website that Wilson's progress had been positive and they were keen to see him play more minutes.
The loan allows Wilson to gain valuable experience while Woking focus on their National League campaign. The Cards currently sit 23rd in the table with four points from six matches. Their recent form reads LDLWL, having scored four goals and conceded ten. The move does not deplete the senior defensive options significantly, as Wilson is considered a development player.
The Director of Football provided two quotes regarding the transfer. "Kemall’s progress has been really positive, and we were delighted to see him make an appearance on Tuesday night in the win over Southampton U21s," Brown said. He added, "We’ve been keen to step up his development, and there have been a few clubs showing interest." The decision to select Leatherhead was finalized after these discussions.
Woking are 12 points behind league leaders Boreham Wood early in the season, making every point vital. Integrating young talent like Wilson into the first-team environment remains a long-term goal, but immediate results are the priority. The club's squad list shows the blend of experience and youth available to the manager. Wilson's loan to a competitive Isthmian League side is viewed as the next step in his pathway. He will be aiming to feature for Leatherhead when they host Folkestone Invicta this Saturday.
