Ben Woods signs for Posh

The attacking midfielder arrives at London Road from Accrington Stanley.

Photo Credit : Joe Dent / Peterborough United

Who is Ben Woods?

The 22-year-old started his career with the Manchester United academy before moving onto Burnley and then Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he made his professional debut.

He signed for Stanley in September 2023, initially on a one-year deal. Posh fans will have to wait for Woods’ debut, following recent hand surgery. He will be available in approximately three weeks.

Breakout season

Even though the team struggled, Woods finished as Stanley’s joint top scorer last season with nine goals from midfield, highlighting his ability to contribute to the final-third work. 

This is an area Posh has been sorely lacking in so far this season.

He was also named Manager’s and Supporters' Player of the Season, a testament to how highly regarded he was at his former club.

Woods' Work

It should not be underestimated how much work Woods does off the ball, both offensively and defensively. 

From a defensive perspective, he was in 94th percentile among all midfielders in League Two last season.

One area of concern is that his ‘dribbled past’ rate is extremely high. 

This may come from the fact that he could rely on other midfielders behind him to ‘mop-up’ and was willing to engage in duels, even if he was likely to lose. 

Nevertheless, it will be important that he sharpens up in this area for Posh.

My Verdict

I am excited about this signing. 

Stanley may have been one of the weaker sides in League Two last year, but Woods’ stats and highlights indicate that he was not part of the problem there - in fact he likely helped them stay up. 

Posh now need the same and it's good to see the club acting quickly to try to fix clear midfield issues.