Left back Tom Pearce is now in his fourth season at the DW Stadium after joining Latics from Leeds United in the summer of 2019. The Ormskirk-born defender played his schoolboy football with Everton before moving to Elland Road as a 16-year-old in 2014, later making his first-team debut in March 2018 - a month before his 20th birthday. 

He made a further nine appearances for the South Yorkshire outfit, scoring once in a 2-1 win over Barnsley. Following a brief loan spell at Scunthorpe United, Pearce joined Latics in August 2019 and made his debut in a Third Round Emirates FA Cup tie at Leicester City in the following January. 

The 24-year-old became a key member of the Latics squad in 2020/21, making 28 appearances as Leam Richardson’s side heroically avoided relegation to Sky Bet League Two despite spending the best part of the campaign in administration. 

The energetic defender continued to impress with his performances down the left-hand side in the following season, contributing to a number of eye-catching assists as Latics went on to lift the Sky Bet League One title on the final day against Shrewsbury Town.