Curtis Tilt joined Latics for the fourth successive transfer window in January 2022, though on this occasion the defender joined on a permanent 18-month contract, having previously signed on three loan deals. Tilt was part of Latics’ ‘Great Escape’ last season, featuring on 36 occasions as Leam Richardson’s side defied the odds to secure their Sky Bet League One status following a campaign played mainly under the challenges of administration. The physically imposing defender became the Club’s 18th new signing in the summer, including the retentions of Tendayi Darikwa, Will Keane, and Jamie Jones. Tilt’s career path into league football was quite unique as he was plucked from amateur football to play in non-league for Halesowen Town and Hednesford Town in 2015. Later in the same year, Tilt joined AFC Telford United, where he impressed enough in the National League North to earn a move to National League Wrexham ahead of the 2016-17 season. A loan spell with Forest Green Rovers followed before Tilt was signed by Blackpool in the summer of 2017. During his spell at Bloomfield Road, Tilt played over 100 first teams and attracted the interest of a few Championship clubs, including Latics. Tilt made the move to fellow League One side Rotherham United in January 2020, though he made just one appearance for the Millers before the COVID-19 outbreak curtailed the 2019-20 season. The Millers won promotion as they finished 2nd in the League One table and Tilt used the summer period to have surgery on a hip injury, with his return to fitness enabling Latics to bring him to the DW Stadium in October on a loan deal until January 2021. After spending the first half of the season at the DW Stadium - featuring 13 times for Richardson’s side - Tilt re-joined Latics until the end of the 2020/21 campaign with the aim to help Latics survive relegation. The central defender was instrumental as Latics achieved their objective of survival, and in the 2021/22 campaign, the Jamaican international helped Richardson's men win the Sky Bet League One title.