The numbers behind Arkell Jude-Boyd’s Shrewsbury Town signing

The data behind Arkell Jude-Boyd’s Cheltenham career paints a picture of what Shrewsbury Town can expect from their first signing of the summer.

Here’s a closer look at the stats behind the move and what he could bring to the Croud Meadow.

Arkell Jude-Boyd made 83 appearances in all competitions for Cheltenham Town, scoring four goals across his two seasons at the club.

Of those, 71 came in League Two, underlining his strong recent Football League experience as he arrives at Shrewsbury.

In his first season at Cheltenham, Jude-Boyd made 34 league appearances, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

In the 2024/25 campaign, he made a further 37 League Two appearances, registering one assist, which came against Salop on Boxing Day.

Across the season, Jude-Boyd registered 21 shots in league competition, with three on target.

In possession, the 23-year-old completed 938 open-play passes, with 670 successful - a completion rate of 71.4 per cent, ranking him eighth among the Cheltenham squad.

He also ranked among the club’s most active players in the final third, attempting 253 passes in that area and completing 144.

Crossing is one area where the right-sided defender particularly stands out, and where Shrewsbury will hope he can provide a threat next season.

Jude-Boyd attempted 85 crosses in League Two last season - the highest of any Cheltenham player, with the next highest on 66.

While only 10 were successful, his willingness to deliver into the box and create chances is a key attacking trait Town will look to utilise.

Heat map data from Opta shows he operated primarily as a right wing-back, regularly advancing down the flank and looking to support attacking moves in the final third.

Jude-Boyd made 300 carries with the ball in League Two last season, covering a distance of more than 3.6km in possession. Of those carries, 171 were classed as progressive, with four ending in shots and five resulting in chances created.

This is the profile Shrewsbury boss Gavin Cowan will be hoping to maximise as he looks to improve Town’s attacking output after they finished as the second-lowest scorers in League Two last season.

Cowan has consistently used a back five system, which could suit Jude-Boyd’s strengths as an attacking wing-back capable of providing width and delivery.

The manager has also drawn comparisons between Jude-Boyd and Kevin Berkoe, his first signing, who impressed in the wing-back role with his attacking threat.

Defensively, Jude-Boyd made 54 tackles across his 37 league appearances last season, along with 22 interceptions and 89 clearances. He also won 110 of his 225 ground duels.