LONDON, CMC – Grenada international Aaron Pierre signed a 12-month deal with English League 1 club Shrewsbury Town this week.
The 31-year-old defender made 99 appearances for the club between 2019 and 2022 and returned to the Croud Meadow last year. Club manager Paul Hurst offered him fresh terms after he impressed in the 20 matches he played before a groin injury ended his season early.
“It was essential for me to get this deal done,” Pierre said in an interview on the club’s website. “I want that entire season and, most importantly, with a full pre-season behind me.
“I haven’t had a full pre-season for a couple of years now, and that is so important – it gives you that base to take into the league. I’ve spoken to the gaffer (Hurst) and Doigy (assistant manager Chris Doig), and they say they will get me in the best condition possible. Everything they have said made me want to sign.”
Pierre said he was recuperating nicely from the groin injury and had started conditioning work to improve his fitness level. That meant turning down an opportunity to play for the Spice Boyz, as the Grenada national team is known, in the Concacaf qualifiers for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
“I think it’s important I progress steadily rather than trying to fast-track,” he said. “I was going to go on international duty with Grenada – but that would have meant trying to fast-track things, and I just felt that didn’t make sense.
“We made – what I think was a smart decision – to concentrate on rebuilding my injury, strengthening the area properly, so I’m in a good place.”
Pierre said the club was his second home and was made to feel welcome on his return, so he wants to repay the faith they have placed in him.
“Even my mum is happy I am here,” he said. “She feels like I’m looked after; she always says it’s a great club.
“The chairman was thrilled. I spoke to the chairman, and he gave me a big hug. He’s a great guy.”
Pierre said he was slowing down a bit at his age, but he still felt a lot left in the tank for him to play an essential role for the club.
“For sure, I feel my best years are ahead of me,” he said. “Before the last couple of injuries, I was in a perfect place. I was always looking up. Injuries happen; you must deal with those punches when they come your way.
“But I feel like when I returned last season, I started to prove myself again. Unfortunately, I had to do it without that base you get from pre-season. The injury was sudden and stopped what had been a good come-back. Now I have to get a full pre-season under my belt – that will give me the foundations to start the season well.”
Shrewsbury Town finished 19th in the 24-team table on 48 points—four above the relegation zone—after winning 13 matches, drawing nine, and losing 24.
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