Plymouth Argyle have kicked off the January transfer window with a statement move, announcing the signing of 29-year-old winger Ronan Curtis from Port Vale on a two-and-a-half-year contract. The deal, pending EFL approval, marks the club’s first major acquisition of 2026 and signals Head Coach Tom Cleverley’s intent to inject experience and attacking flair into a squad fighting to climb away from the League One relegation zone.
For Argyle fans, the arrival of Curtis couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment. The club currently sits 16th in League One, just three points above the relegation places, and has been grappling with inconsistent results and a lack of balance in both attack and defense. Although the Pilgrims are riding a modest three-game unbeaten streak, Cleverley’s side has struggled to convert opportunities and plug defensive leaks, conceding 39 goals in 25 league matches—one of the poorest records in the division.
Enter Ronan Curtis, a player whose League One pedigree is virtually unmatched. Over the course of his career, Curtis has amassed an impressive 203 appearances in the division for Port Vale and Portsmouth, and his overall record across all competitions stands at 420 appearances, 97 goals, and 61 assists. His journey began at Derry City in Northern Ireland, but it was at Portsmouth where he truly made his mark, scoring 57 goals in five years and becoming a fan favorite at Fratton Park. After a short stint at AFC Wimbledon, Curtis joined Port Vale in May 2024, where he continued to demonstrate his knack for both scoring and creating chances.
Head Coach Tom Cleverley expressed his delight at the signing, emphasizing the value of Curtis’s experience. “We are really pleased to bring Ronan to the club. He has played most of his English career at League One level so has knowledge and experience of the division which will only benefit the group of players we have here. I am delighted we have been able to bring further quality into the squad so early in the window and I want to thank the board, Derek (Adams) and the recruitment team for acting so swiftly,” Cleverley said.
Director of Football Derek Adams echoed this sentiment, highlighting Curtis’s direct style and ability to provide both goals and assists. “Ronan is proven at this level and will add real competition for places to Tom’s squad. He offers excellent quality in the wide areas, providing goals and assists wherever he has been. Alongside that, he is a direct, exciting winger who the Green Army will enjoy watching, and we are really happy to bring him to Argyle,” Adams stated.
Curtis’s recent form at Port Vale shows a player still capable of making an impact. This season, he has scored two goals and provided two assists in 19 League One matches, while creating 29 chances for his teammates—a statistic that bodes well for Argyle’s leading scorer Lorent Tolaj, who currently tops the division’s scoring charts with 12 goals. The potential reunion of Curtis and Tolaj, who previously thrived together at Port Vale, could inject new life into Argyle’s attack, particularly with injuries limiting options up front. With Owen Oseni sidelined, Tolaj and Bim Pepple remain Cleverley’s only available strikers, making Curtis’s arrival even more timely.
Standing over six feet tall, Curtis brings not only technical skill but also a physical presence on the wing. His versatility allows him to operate on either flank, and his experience—bolstered by seven caps for the Republic of Ireland—will be invaluable as Argyle navigate the pressures of a relegation scrap. Plymouth Fan Pundit Luke Hodge summed up the excitement among supporters: “I’d be happy with that signing. He’s predominantly a left-sided player, left wing, left midfield. I think he can play on the other side. At the moment, we seem to be playing a 4-4-2 under Tom Cleverley or 4-2-3-1. So wide players, we are lacking a little bit. He’s 29-years-old, so he’s got bags of experience, a bit of a seasoned League One player. He’s played with Portsmouth before, and he’s scored a few goals and got a few assists and done well at Port Vale, so he knows the league inside out.”
Curtis’s career hasn’t been without setbacks. In February 2023, he suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of his time at Portsmouth. He returned to action with AFC Wimbledon, where he scored five goals in 17 appearances before joining Port Vale. Since then, he has made 34 starts and 39 substitute appearances for the Valiants, scoring 11 goals—including a recent strike in a 5-1 win over Blackpool on New Year’s Day. Port Vale acknowledged his contributions in a statement: “We can confirm that Ronan Curtis has today left Port Vale to join fellow Sky Bet League One side, Plymouth Argyle, for an undisclosed fee. The midfielder made 73 appearances for the Valiants after signing from AFC Wimbledon in June 2024, scoring a total of seven league goals. We would like to thank Ronan for his contributions to the club during his time here.”
With Curtis officially unveiled as Argyle’s number 28, attention now turns to how he will fit into Cleverley’s evolving squad. The head coach has made no secret of his desire to further strengthen the team, particularly in the striker and midfield positions. The January window remains open, and while rumors have swirled about potential defensive reinforcements, Plymouth Live reports that Argyle are not currently pursuing Everton defender Reece Welch on loan, despite earlier speculation.
For now, though, the focus is firmly on Curtis and the fresh impetus he brings. His blend of experience, physicality, and creativity could prove decisive as Argyle aim to consolidate their League One status and push further up the table. Fans will be eager to see if Curtis can recapture the form that made him a standout at Portsmouth and a consistent threat at Port Vale. If he does, Plymouth Argyle’s January business may well be remembered as the turning point in their season.
As the dust settles on this headline move, the Green Army will be watching closely to see how quickly Curtis adapts to life at Home Park. With the transfer window still open and more signings possible, Argyle’s fortunes in the months ahead could hinge on how well their new winger hits the ground running.
