Promising defender Kell Watts signed for Latics on a season-long loan from Premier League side Newcastle United, in the summer of 2021. Watts, who hails from Alnwick in the north-east, spent the 2020/21 campaign at fellow Sky Bet League One club Plymouth Argyle, making a total of 50 appearances as he established himself at Home Park. The centre half, who made his Premier League debut for Newcastle against Liverpool on the final day of the 2019/20 season, has also had loan spells at Stevenage and Mansfield Town in recent seasons. Watts made his Latics debut against Hull City in the Carabao Cup, before being handed his first league start in the 1-0 victory over Rotherham United on Saturday 14 August 2021.