Wigan Athletic have signed Sonny Perkins from Leyton Orient on a two-year deal, bringing in a 22-year-old striker with a recent run of mixed output in front of goal. The move gives Wigan Athletic a new attacking option through the next two seasons.
Sonny Perkins and Wigan Athletic
Perkins said he has had “some big experiences at a young age and some tough ones as well,” before setting out his own target for the move. He added: “Now it's about consistently showing what I can do, and I'm very confident I can do that here. I'm really looking forward to it.”
That is the frame around the deal: Wigan Athletic are not buying a finished product, but a forward who has already had to adjust quickly after moving from Leeds United in June 2024. The fee was undisclosed, so the scale of the move has to be read through the contract length and the club's decision to commit to him for two years.
Leyton Orient for Sonny Perkins
His record at Leyton Orient gives the signing both promise and a clear test. Perkins scored four goals in 46 league appearances for the club, but he failed to score in 21 appearances in all competitions last season.
That split tells the story of a player still looking for steadier return in the final third. Wigan Athletic have taken that gamble on a short contract by football standards, which leaves little room for drift if he is to turn promise into output.
Wigan Athletic for the next two years
For Wigan Athletic, the immediate change is simple: they have another striker in place now, and he arrives with a recent league record, a difficult spell in front of goal, and a clear message about what he wants next. The real test is whether Perkins can turn the confidence he voiced into goals over the life of the deal.
