Oldham Athletic have confirmed the signing of Ryan Woods following his departure from Exeter City earlier on Monday.
The 31-year-old midfielder agreed to terminate his contract at St James Park by mutual consent and has now penned a two-year deal with Micky Mellon’s side.
Former Captain Woods Deaprts Devon
Woods joined Exeter permanently in the summer of 2024 after a successful loan spell from Hull City and went on to make 41 appearances during the 2024/25 season, scoring twice. His goals included a stunning strike against Cambridge United and a direct corner in a dramatic 4–4 draw with Crawley Town. Over his 18-month stint, he amassed 55 appearances for the club and briefly wore the captain’s armband.
Explaining the decision to leave Devon, manager Gary Caldwell said:
“Ryan has been a pleasure to work with – a calm, experienced figure who played a key role in bringing the group together after a challenging period in January 2024. His technical quality and composure in possession gave us real control in games and were vital in helping the team finish the 2023/24 season strongly. Being away from his wife and two young daughters last season has proved to be more difficult, and we fully respect his decision to move closer to home.”
Woods now links up with an ambitious Oldham side aiming for promotion from League Two. The Latics, who were relegated from the EFL in 2022, are determined to return to the league under Mellon’s leadership and have targeted seasoned professionals to bolster their squad.
Speaking after signing, Woods said:
“I’m really excited to be here and can’t wait to get started. Oldham is a massive club with ambitious plans, and as soon as I heard those, I knew this was the right move for me. I want to bring my experience to help the team push on now, and hopefully achieve something special this season.”
Manager Micky Mellon praised the addition, highlighting Woods’ control, passing range, and leadership as key attributes that will help drive the Latics forward.
Writer’s View
This is an excellent bit of business for Oldham Athletic. Ryan Woods brings a calmness in midfield that’s difficult to teach, and his wealth of Championship experience gives Mellon’s side an edge few League Two clubs will possess. While family reasons drove the decision to leave Exeter, Woods’ motivation and quality remain evident.
He was a steadying influence at St James Park during a transitional period and should offer similar leadership at Boundary Park. For Oldham, it’s another sign they mean business—and Woods could be the difference-maker in a tight promotion race.
