Former Wigan Athletic and Leeds United star joins Tics old-boy contingent at Chesterfield
Former Wigan Athletic defender Tom Pearce has joined the growing former Latics contingent at League Two outfit Chesterfield.
The 27-year-old has returned to the UK after a spell in Major League Soccer with the Montreal Impact, whom he joined in the summer of 2024.
He has penned an 18-month deal with Paul Cook's Spirietes, becoming their sixth January signing.
“I came back from the MLS in October time and then spoke to a few different clubs and then obviously Chesterfield got in contact," he said.
“Obviously speaking with the gaffer and the staff, I just thought this was the perfect move in my career. I’m really looking forward to it and happy to be here.
“Chesterfield was the only club for me and having a chance to play under the gaffer again, it’s a real privilege.”
During his time in the MLS, Pearce was fortunate enough to face Lionel Messi, who led Sir David Beckham’s Inter Miami to the title at the end of last year.
“I am grateful that I was able to go out there and experience the league and a different lifestyle and playing against, in my opinion, the best player in the world in Messi,” acknowledged Pearce.
"Just to be on the pitch with him, up close, to see how he played, is hard to explain.”
Pearce, who hails from Ormskirk, started off in the youth set-up at Everton, but signed his first professional contract across the Pennines at Leeds United.
Following a loan spell at Scunthorpe United, he joined Cook and Latics in the summer of 2019.
He made more than 100 appearances for Latics during an eventful four-year stay, which included one relegation from the Championship, one promotion from League One, and one 'Great Escape' in 2020/21 while the club battled through administration.
His new team-mates at Chesterfield include familiar faces Chey Dunkley, Tom Naylor, Will Grigg, James Berry and Ronan Darcy, who is currently on a season-long loan from Wigan.
Gary Roberts is also on Cook's backroom staff.
“I have only been in a couple days but I can already feel that it is a real family club and that everyone is very close,” added Pearce.
"It is a good group of lads and a lot of really good players. It is a strong squad, which is what you want, you want competition for places.
"The end goal is to get promoted and we have got a good chance to do that. That is why I have come here, to get promoted, and take the club to League One.
"I had played in England for many years so it was something that I had in the back of my mind. When I had the chance to come back it was a no-brainer.”
Pearce was denied the opportunity to make his debut for Chesterfield at the weekend when the scheduled home game against Colchester United fell foul of the weather.
The Spireites lie seventh in the League Two standings, three points adrift of automatic promotion.