Last 10 Cymru Premier Players to Join the EFL

With the summer transfer window in full swing, clubs are circling, deals are gathering pace, and opportunities are opening up for some of the Cymru Premier’s brightest talents.

One name that has been impossible to ignore is Rhys Hughes. After two outstanding seasons, interest from the EFL always felt inevitable. However, The New Saints moved quickly to secure his signature, and now it feels like TNS hold all the cards in the Cymru Premier title race.

Elsewhere, Ieuan Owen has taken the next step by joining Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock, while several other Cymru Premier stars have made the move into English non-league football.

In recent years, an increasing number of players have used the Cymru Premier as a springboard into the English Football League. For some, it’s been the start of an impressive professional career. For others, the step up has proved much tougher than expected.

So, what really happens when Cymru Premier talent leaps?

Here’s a look at the last 10 players to move from the Welsh top flight into the EFL, examining who has flourished, who found the transition difficult, and what their journeys can tell us about the next generation.

James Crole

At just 22 years old, James Crole completed a mid-season move from Penybont to Newport County for an undisclosed fee.

Interestingly, his departure coincided with a dip in Penybont’s form, although securing UEFA Europa Conference League qualification meant there were few complaints in Bridgend.

Since arriving at Rodney Parade, Crole has scored once in 20 appearances, making 11 starts along the way. While the goals haven’t flowed yet, a full pre-season, time to settle into a professional environment, and daily training should put him in a strong position to rediscover the form that made him one of the Cymru Premier’s most exciting forwards.

Isaac Lee

Isaac Lee had no shortage of admirers before making the move to Shrewsbury Town. Several EFL clubs were tracking the Flint Town United youngster, while rumours of a move abroad also surfaced during the summer.

That transfer never materialised, with Lee remaining at Flint until January.

Michael Appleton was the manager who signed him, but by the time Lee was ready for first-team football, Gavin Cowan had replaced him in the dugout.

After helping Shrewsbury secure League Two survival, Cowan handed Lee his opportunity. The youngster started the final three matches of the season, keeping a clean sheet against Crawley Town while also featuring against Fleetwood Town and Gillingham.

It’s only a small sample size, but it’s an encouraging end to his first season in the EFL.

Lee Jenkins

Jenkins established himself as a fan favourite at Newport County during what was a difficult first season at Rodney Parade, earning the Supporters’ Trust Player of the Season award.

The 24-year-old made the switch to Newport from Haverfordwest County in 2025, arriving at the Exiles with a wealth of experience, having already made 190 appearances in the Welsh top flight.

He was handed the captain’s armband throughout October and November, an impressive achievement given he had only joined the club during the summer.

When Jenkins missed a spell through injury, Newport struggled to pick up wins, perhaps highlighting just how important his presence was to the side. He proved to be a reliable and consistent performer, playing regularly under both David Hughes and, later, Christian Fuchs.

Given his performances, it would be no surprise to see clubs at the higher end of League Two, and potentially even sides in League One, monitoring Jenkins’ situation.

Keenan Patten

Football runs in the Patten family, with Keenan following older brothers Kyle and Robbie through the ranks at Barry Town United.

Having come through Cardiff City’s academy, Patten gained senior experience during loan spells at Hereford and Penybont before establishing himself at Barry, where he made 50 appearances in just over a season.

His performances earned him a move to Newport County midway through the campaign.

Since arriving at Rodney Parade, the defender has made six senior appearances. However, opportunities became limited last season, leading to a loan return to Barry Town United, where he added another six appearances.

At 25, there’s still plenty of time for Patten to force his way back into the picture.

Billy Kirkman

Blackburn-born defender Billy Kirkman developed through The New Saints academy after joining the club at Under-13 level.

First-team opportunities at Park Hall were limited, with just five senior appearances, but two impressive loan spells at Aberystwyth Town showcased his potential. Across those loans, Kirkman played 41 matches and established himself as one of the league’s most reliable young defenders.

Swindon Town rewarded those performances with a move in August 2024.

After a brief loan spell at Weston-super-Mare, Kirkman has steadily established himself in Swindon’s first-team plans.

The 22-year-old has now made 31 appearances for the Robins, including 15 last season, and recently signed a contract extension keeping him at the County Ground until 2027.

Kai Whitmore

Kai Whitmore’s route to the EFL began at Ammanford before spells with Penybont and Haverfordwest County.

Across 71 Cymru Premier appearances, the midfielder scored six goals and registered four assists. His spell with Haverfordwest also included European football, as he helped the Bluebirds record a memorable UEFA Conference League victory over Shkëndija.

Newport County recognised his potential and signed him in July 2024.

Whitmore made 52 appearances for the Exiles, contributing six goals and six assists before being released midway through the 2025–26 campaign.

The midfielder has since embarked on a new adventure by joining Singapore Premier League side Young Lions, a move that also brings him closer to his ambition of representing Singapore internationally.

Nathan Wood

Nathan Wood established himself as one of Penybont’s standout players during his first spell at the club.

Across roughly 130 appearances, he contributed 36 goals and 23 assists, earning a return to hometown club Newport County in the summer of 2023.

The jump from semi-professional football to the EFL proved challenging.

Wood made his league debut against Doncaster Rovers before scoring his first Newport goal in the EFL Trophy against Cheltenham Town. Despite showing flashes of quality, regular opportunities proved difficult to come by.

He made around 20 appearances in all competitions and also spent time on loan at Cork City to gain valuable minutes.

Wood featured in Newport’s memorable FA Cup run, including appearances against Manchester United and Brentford, before returning to Penybont on loan in August 2024.

Back in familiar surroundings, he quickly rediscovered his confidence and attacking output.

Following his release by Newport at the end of the 2024–25 season, Wood completed a permanent return to Penybont, bringing his journey full circle.

Will Evans

Perhaps no player better illustrates the pathway from the Cymru Premier to the EFL than Will Evans.

After making his name with Cardiff Met and Bala Town, Evans had already built an outstanding reputation in Welsh football. He played a key role in Cardiff Met’s rise to the Cymru Premier before making more than 160 appearances across both clubs, contributing 63 goals and assists.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

A brilliant brace against England C in Caernarfon put Evans firmly on the radar of EFL scouts.

When Newport County came calling, he grabbed the opportunity.

He barely missed a game in his first season before exploding in his second, scoring 21 goals and providing three assists to help Newport comfortably avoid relegation.

Those performances earned him a reported £200,000 move to Mansfield Town.

Since then, Evans has continued his remarkable rise. He helped Mansfield secure promotion to League One, reached double figures in his debut third-tier campaign and is now closing in on 100 appearances for the club.

Not bad for someone who was balancing football with farming just a few years ago.

James Waite

James Waite’s career looked uncertain after his release from Cardiff City in 2021.

Although he’d gained senior experience through loan spells at Hereford, Weston-super-Mare and Waterford, he needed a permanent opportunity to rebuild.

Penybont provided exactly that.

His stay lasted just six months under Rhys Griffiths, but it was enough to reignite interest from the EFL.

Newport County moved quickly, and Waite made an immediate impact by registering nine goals and two assists across all competitions in his first season.

Over the next two-and-a-half years, he became an established member of the squad, making 93 appearances while contributing five goals and seven assists.

Following his release in 2024, Waite returned to Weston-super-Mare before enjoying a loan spell at Eastleigh.

In March 2026, he began another chapter by signing for Gloucester City, continuing his career in the seventh tier of English football.

Priestley Farquharson

Priestley Farquharson arrived at Connah’s Quay Nomads in January 2019 after spells in English non-league football.

He quickly became one of the league’s standout defenders, helping the Nomads win back-to-back Cymru Premier titles in 2019–20 and 2020–21 while also collecting the league’s Young Player of the Season award.

His performances earned him a move to Newport County in January 2021.

Over several seasons, Farquharson became a regular at Rodney Parade and was part of the squad that reached the 2021 League Two play-off final at Wembley.

A move to Walsall followed in 2023, where he made 59 appearances before leaving at the end of the 2025–26 season.

He has since joined Crawley Town, where he will be looking to add another successful chapter to an already impressive career.