Welcome to Posh, Evan Weir | What are we actually getting?
- Charlie Mclellan
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The worst-kept secret in Peterborough is finally official. Evan Weir is a Posh player from Walsall when his contract expired.
This signing has been done for a long time, with Darragh MacAnthony alluding to an unnamed left-sided defender being locked down months ago, and Pete O’Rourke naming Weir online more recently.
Now that the deal has been announced, we can break down who Evan Weir is and what he can bring to the party.
Who is he?
Weir is 24, Irish, 6 ft 1 in, and left-footed. He came through at Drogheda United, where he won their Young Player of the Year award in 2022.
He was still working as an electrician while playing in the League of Ireland, which is one of those backstory details you can't help but like.
Walsall signed him in January 2024 as part of a multi-club setup with Drogheda, loaning him straight back for six months before he linked up with the Saddlers that summer.
He leaves Walsall with 56 appearances over two seasons, an Ireland Under-21 call-up on his CV, and a former manager in Mat Sadler who described his left peg as the best in League Two.
Strengths
Weir's delivery from open play and set pieces is genuinely elite for the level. He ranks highly for chances created per 90 and successful crosses per 90.
He is also a threat from direct free kicks. He scored several stunners across 2025/26, which made him a constant danger from dead balls.
Weir constantly scans for line-breaking passes that will get Posh up the pitch and increase our attacking threat in possession. Our build-up from the back has been very sloppy at times in the last two seasons; however, Weir should help to bring back beautiful football.
His versatility is a big strength too. At Walsall, he played left centre-back in a back three, left-back in a four, and is comfortable pushing on as a wing-back. This will give Luke Williams a great level of tactical flexibility on that left flank.
Weir is a good friend of David Okagbue, so should settle into the environment at Posh quickly, and will be under no illusions as to what he is in for.
Weaknesses
Weir is not the most athletic defender. He can get caught out by pacey wingers and strikers good at running off shoulders, and doesn’t always have the recovery pace to atone for his mistakes. He is also sometimes prone to defensive lapses in concentration, which is not good for someone without the physicality to recover.
Because of Weir’s division-leading ability with the ball at his feet, he often takes risks in possession. Regularly, they pay off, with Weir breaking lines and creating chances; however, it does lead to occasional sloppy turnovers, something Posh will need to be wary of. You’d think Weir would be punished more for that in League One than in League Two.
Weir was not used by Walsall in the latter stages of this campaign; however, they had nothing to play for, and the manager who didn’t fancy him is no longer at the club, so I can’t say this concerns me.
Where does he fit?
In a back three, Weir is at his best as the left centre-back, stepping into advanced areas and feeding the attack. In a back four, he's a more orthodox left-back, where he's less exposed defensively, but you may sacrifice some of that attacking power.
The initial sense is that he's here to push Harley Mills, and that competition should bring the best out of both of them. But if Luke Williams fancies a back three at any point, Weir gives him a genuinely progressive option on that left side that we simply haven't ever had.
My verdict
The transfer of a 24-year-old with the best left foot in League Two, set-piece goals in his locker, and positional flexibility across the left side. This seems to be a very shrewd piece of business.
His defensive deficiencies are concerning; however, they can be coached out of his game. I am excited to see a classy, ball-playing defender back in a Posh team.
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