Tendayi Darikwa joined Latics in January 2021 until the end of the 2021/22 season, before extending his contract until 2023 after helping the club survive from relegation against all the odds. Having worked with Leam Richardson previously at Chesterfield, Darikwa opted to move to Latics despite interest from several EFL clubs. The right-sided defender was a mainstay in Latics' starting XI in the second half of the 2020-21 season and played a crucial role as Richardson’s men survived from relegation. After making his debut in the 3-3 draw at Rochdale in January, the Zimbabwe international went on to make a further 25 league appearances for Latics, helping the defence provide a solid platform to push towards safety. Darikwa made his professional debut for the Spireites in November 2010 in an FA Cup defeat at Burton Albion. Over the next five years, he went on to play over 150 games for Chesterfield, helping the club to win promotion from League Two and then finish in the top six in League One under the stewardship of Paul Cook. After winning a near clean sweep at the club’s end of season awards, Darikwa was the subject of interest from Premier League and Championship clubs. Burnley purchased the right back in 2015 and he helped the Clarets to win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League. Darikwa featured less following Burnley’s promotion and he moved on to Nottingham Forest in 2017 and played regularly for two seasons before suffering a knee injury ahead of the 2019/20 season, which ruled him out for the whole campaign. After returning to training with Forest, first team opportunities weren’t forthcoming and he opted to move to the DW Stadium in search of regular action.