Wigan Athletic, Notts County and Cambridge United are all reportedly interested in Accrington Stanley defender Devon Matthews, with Chesterfield also said to be monitoring the 26-year-old.
The centre-back has emerged as a summer target after establishing himself at the Wham Stadium, with Football Insider reporting that several clubs are now considering moves for the Accrington Stanley defender.
Matthews made 40 league appearances for Stanley during the 2025/26 campaign, becoming one of their more important figures as he completed his first full season as an EFL regular. That form has now placed him on the radar of clubs higher up the pyramid, with Wigan, Notts County and Cambridge all looking at potential defensive additions ahead of the new season.
The report adds that Chesterfield are also interested, although their chances will be limited with League One sides currently in the hunt. Stanley are said to be braced for strong summer attention in Matthews, who only joined the club in January 2025.
Wigan’s interest comes as Gary Caldwell looks to reshape his squad following a 16th-placed finish in League One last season. The Latics have also been linked with Sunderland centre-back Zak Johnson, another player reportedly on their defensive shortlist, suggesting that the back line is an area of focus during the window.
Notts County and Cambridge are also named among the clubs keen on Matthews after both secured promotion to League One. For newly promoted sides, a defender with a physical presence, looking to prove himself, could be a gamble, or it could be natural progression.
Unconventional route
Matthews’ route has not been a conventional one. After coming through the Oldham Athletic academy, he played for Chadderton before spells with Glossop North End and Mossley. His real breakthrough came at Curzon Ashton, where he became a key figure in the National League North and earned his move into the Football League.
Accrington signed him on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee in January 2025, and he made his debut the following day in a 2-1 defeat to Port Vale. Since then, he has become increasingly prominent for Stanley, with his 2025/26 campaign now seemingly putting him in position for another step up.
Matthews has yet to play in League One, but the level of interest suggests clubs believe he has the profile to make that jump. Accrington have previously seen players use the club as a platform for bigger moves, and this could become another test of their resolve if formal approaches arrive.
Whoever wins the race, the attraction is clear enough. Matthews is not an untested youngster, but he is still at an age where further development is realistic. After climbing from non-league into the EFL, a move into League One would represent the next natural stage of a career that has been built steadily.
