HUDDERSFIELD Town have made Nottingham Forest centre-back Joel Lynch their fifth close-season signing.

The 24-year-old former Brighton man was out of contract after an impressive campaign in the heart of the City Ground defence.

And the newly-promoted Galpharm club, who start pre-season training tomorrow, have won the race for the signature of the Wales-qualified star, who has had one call-up but is yet to feature at international level.

Town manager Simon Grayson is delighted to have Lynch on board and said: “This is a fantastic deal for us because, without going into too much detail, around six to eight Championship and two Premier League clubs showed a very strong interest in Joel.

“We’ve had to be patient and we’ve worked very hard, but it’s all worthwhile and we’re delighted to have him here.

“Joel is a strong, athletic, left-sided centre half who can also play at left back.

“He’s a good age and a great lad and he was a big influence in keeping Nottingham Forest up last season

“The fact that he has chosen to come to us is evidence that people are really buying into what we’re trying to do here – it’s a real coup for Town.”

Championship rivals Forest have now lost all six of the out-of-contract players who had been offered new deals.