Huddersfield Town manager Chris Powell says they’ve got “a good and very motivated professional” by making Martin Cranie a fifth permanent signing of the summer.
The 28-year-old defender – who has played in all three pre-season friendlies so far and taken part in the Spanish training camp – has signed a one-year contract, with the club having the option of a further year.
Cranie was a free agent after leaving Barnsley at the end of last season but has vast experience with Southampton, Portsmouth, Coventry City and the Oakwell club.
“When I learned Martin was available to come in on trial with us, I wanted us to take up the opportunity and he subsequently was part of the week-long pre-season training camp in Spain and played 45 minutes in the friendlies against Guiseley, Leyton Orient and Grimsby Town,” said Powell.
“He has fitted into the group very well in terms of his personality and ability and came into pre-season in fantastic shape – he’s a good professional and very motivated.
“I think he fits the bill for us, as he has great know-how of the division and can play all across the back four, with his strongest position being centre back.
“He will strengthen our defensive options and add real depth for the defensive positions in my team, so I’m very happy Martin has joined the club for the 2015-16 season.”
Powell says he is pleased with summer work in the transfer market.
“We have a good balance in our signings of Dean Whitehead, Jason Davidson, Kyle Dempsey, Jordy Hiwula and now Martin, so I’m really pleased with how the squad is taking shape ahead of the start of the Championship season at Hull City,” he explained.
Cranie has been on trial at PPG Canalside for almost three weeks and seems certain to play in Saturday’s friendly at Rochdale.
In Town’s current squad, only Mark Hudson, Dean Whitehead, Sean Scannell and Adam Hammill have played more games in England’s top two divisions than Cranie, whose contract will run until June 30, 2016.
He is a former England Under 21 international who came through Southampton’s Academy and played 25 senior games for the club.
He had loans at AFC Bournemouth and hometown Yeovil and made a permanent move to Portsmouth in 2007, although his two seasons at Pompey included further spells on loan at Queens Park Rangers and Charlton Athletic.
His transfer to Championship Coventry City in 2009 brought regular first-team football and he made 120 senior appearances in three seasons.
He moved to Barnsley in the summer of 2012, where he played another 122 games and was captain.
Cranie will battle Mark Hudson, Joel Lynch and Murray Wallace for the senior centre-back slots.
