1077 Mallik Wilks

Biography

Powerful striker Mallik Wilks joined City on loan from Barnsley in January 2020, making his debut at Derby County the following day. He quickly got amongst the goals in a City side that was struggling for wins in a post-Jarrod Bowen world, making a positive contribution with hard running and skillful dribbling. He briefly left the club at the end of June 2020 with City and Barnsley – relegation rivals in the run-in – unable to agree an extension to his loan that would see out the season delayed by the COVID19 pandemic. In early July 2020 Mallik’s permanent transfer to the Tigers was finally agreed, signing a two year deal and scoring a vital injury time winner against Middlesbrough that evening. he remained largely blameless as the Tigers crashed out of the Championship.

Wilks took his good form into the 2020/21 season when his strength and eye for goal meant he was a constant threat to League One defences. In mid-February he scored a fine hattrick in a 5-0 win at Wigan Athletic, redemption for the 0-8 reverse at the end of the previous season, and finished the title-winning 2020/21 season as City’s top goalscorer with 22 strikes.

Injuries meant he missed games at the start of the 2021/22 season but he came into the first team in the autumn and thrived in a more central role in an attacking pair thanks to Grant McCann’s switch to a 3-5-2 formation. Further injury saw Mallik end the season out of the first team picture under new manager Shota Arveladze, and after a couple of rather low octane performances at the start of the 2022/23 season the transfer rumours became reality in late August 2022 when he joined League One side Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.

Mallik Rashaun Coley Wilks was born and raised in the Chapeltown district of Leeds and came through the academy system at Leeds United, making his first team debut in a January 2017 FA Cup tie against Sutton United – his only senior appearance for the Whites. He signed a lengthy contract for Leeds in August 2017 and proceeded to enjoy three productive loan spells – five goals in 24 appearances for League Two side Accrington Stanley between August and December 2017; six goalless appearances for League Two rivals Grimsby Town between January and May 2018; and the full 2018/19 season at League One side Doncaster Rovers where under the guidance of manager Grant McCann he scored sixteen goals in 55 appearances. During the 2019 close season Leeds United made Wilks available for transfer, prompting both City and Barnsley to make offers. Mallik chose to join Championship side Barnsley where he made a promising start in a struggling side, but a change of management saw him relegated to the Reserves after one goal in 16 appearances, encouraging City into a second successful attempt to sign him – initially on loan.

Wilks joined League One side Sheffield Wednesday in late August 2022 and made his Owls’ debut when introduced as substitute in a 5-0 thumping of Forest Green Rovers. Wednesday earned promotion to the Championship via the play-offs at the end of the 2022/23 season with Wilks contributing two goals, though he was injured during the play-off campaign. He stayed at Hillsborough for the 2023/24 Championship season and was used in a supporting role as the Owls struggled for early season form before picking up under the stewardship of German coach Danny Rohl.

In August 2024 Wilks joined newly relegated League One side Rotherham United on a season long loan, making his debut against a few days later against Bristol Rovers and netting his first goal for the Millers a fortnight later against Huddersfield Town. He ended his season at New York Stadium with an impressive ten goals in 45 appearances before leaving Sheffield Wednesday in May 2025 on expiry of his contract – he scored three goals in 42 appearances for the Owls.

In July 2025 Wilks joined Pendikspor, a TFF First League (the Turkish second tier) side based in Istanbul. he made a goalscoring debut in August 2025 against Bodrum FK and raced to five goals during the first two months of the season.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 15 December 1998, Leeds
Hull City First Game: 18 January 2020, Derby County A (Championship), 21 years, 34 days old
Hull City Final Game: 16 August 2022, Burnley A (Championship), 23 years, 244 days old

Clubs

Leeds United (2016-2019), Accrington Stanley (2017-2018, loan), Grimsby Town (2018, loan), Doncaster Rovers (2018-2019, loan), Barnsley (2019-2020), Hull City (2020, loan), Hull City (2020-2022), Sheffield Wednesday (2022-2025), Rotherham United (2024-2025, loan), Pendikspor (2025-current)

Hull City Record

Career: 91 apps, 30 goals