Louie Barry features: These 12 Stockport County players will leave at the end of 2024/25 as things stand | OneFootball

Decisions will need to be made about this dozen before next summer comes along

Stockport County have adjusted to life in League One with ease at the start of the 24/25 campaign, with the Hatters proving to be more than comfortable with life in the third tier.

Dave Challinor’s side have seen off the likes of Cambridge United, Blackpool and Bristol Rovers to get their campaign underway, as they continue the momentum that has seen them promoted twice in the last three seasons.

After a flurry of transfer activity to help with their passageway into the third tier, County will already be looking ahead to next summer, where a number of key personnel look set to leave the club as it stands.

Here we take a look at just who could be out the door at Edgeley Park if things stay as they are, although you can rest assured the League Two Champions will be doing all they can to tie some of these down to longer-term deals.

Callum Camps

Callum Camps has been a County player since making the move from Fleetwood Town in the summer of 2022, with the midfielder penning a three-year deal when he made the move from Highbury.

That deal has just entered its final year as it stands, with the 28-year-old proving himself to be a player Challinor can rely on in the third tier, with some dominant performances helping his side start the season in fine form.

Whether the club offer him an extension remains to be seen, but the early signs in the current campaign seem to suggest he is getting even better as time goes on.

Will Collar

Having been with the club since the National League days, Will Collar has emerged as a player that County can rely on to produce moments of magic from his role in midfield.

Although injury ruled him out for a large part of the previous campaign, the 27-year-old has hit the ground running at the start of this season and has played his part in a strong start to life in the third tier.

After signing a three-year extension as the club re-entered the Football League in 2022, the former Hamilton Academical man could well be on his way next year if things stay as they are.

Fraser Horsfall

Another player to have been with the club ever since their return to the EFL is Fraser Horsfall, with the former Northampton Town man joining in the summer of 2022.

Having signed a three-year deal, the colossal defender is in the final 12 months of his contract as it stands, having made over 80 league appearances for the club.

Kyle Knoyle

Dynamic fullback Kyle Knoyle was an exciting presence in the County lineup during the first half of the previous campaign, before injury in January ruled him out for much of the rest of the season.

A collision with teammate Ibou Touray saw the former Doncaster Rovers man suffer a bleed on the brain and left him unable to play football for the following three months.

This season has seen the 27-year-old fail to feature so far, which could see him end up departing Edgeley Park when next summer comes around, after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal in January 2023.

Ibou Touray

Former Salford City man Ibou Touray joined the club last summer and signed a two-year deal at Edgeley Park, which will also expire at the end of June 2025.

The left-sided star contributed towards ten goals for County in their emphatic League Two campaign in 23/24 and continues to show his excellence in his first taste of third tier football.

Jack Stretton

Having impressed while on loan with the Hatters in the 2020/21 campaign in the National League, Jack Stretton’s return to the club in January 2023 was warmly welcomed by Stockport fans.

But after suffering an ACL injury last summer, the 23-year-old missed the entirety of last season, before finally making his comeback earlier this month in an EFL Trophy fixture against Accrington Stanley.

Having signed a deal until the summer of 2025, the forward will be looking to prove himself worthy of a new deal now he is back to approach full match fitness in the coming weeks.

Macauley Southam-Hales

Another player who has been at the club from their non-league days, Macauley Southam-Hales has racked up over 100 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The defender signed a new one-year deal in the summer, which will give him the chance to impress at League One level once again, having previously been part of a Fleetwood Town squad in the third tier.

Max Metcalfe

Max Metcalfe joined County on a one-year development contract in the summer, to provide competition for Ben Hinchliffe and Corey Addai between the sticks.

The young star was previously on the books of Middlesbrough before making the move to Edgeley Park but looks unlikely to be featuring regularly in the season ahead due to the quality ahead of him in the pecking order as it stands.

Louie Barry

The magic man. Louie Barry’s repeat of his season-long loan deal from Aston Villa looks to be another Dave Challinor masterstroke, with the frontman already proving his quality in the third tier.

Three goals in as many games to start the league season announced his return to the County side he contributed 13 goals towards in the previous campaign, despite injury disrupting his time on the pitch.

Tayo Adaramola

Another player to join on loan from a Premier League side is Tayo Adaramola, with the defender being lent to County from Crystal Palace.

Injury in a pre-season match with Blackburn Rovers has seen the young star spend the early part of the season on the sidelines, with the Hatters yet to see him in league action as it stands.

Tyler Onyango

It says a lot about Stockport’s reputation that a number of top-flight clubs trust them to nurture their bright young talent, with Everton starlet Tyler Onyango at Edgeley Park for the season ahead.

The young midfielder has predominantly featured off the bench so far in league action but will be looking to compete for a regular spot in Challinor’s plans as the season progresses.

Michael Mellon

After impressing with 13 goals in 22 appearances for Morecambe in League Two during the previous campaign, there was plenty of hype around Michael Mellon’s loan move from Burnley for the campaign ahead.

But the frontman was another loan star to suffer an early injury after moving to the League One outfit, after having to withdraw from a pre-season clash with Stoke City due to an issue.

Both Clarets and County fans will be hoping to see the striker back in action before too long, with goals a guarantee when he gets into his groove.