Huddersfield Town are getting a natural leader in the shape of Mark Hudson.

The 32-year-old centre-back has skippered Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic as well as his previous club Cardiff City.

Hudson, who moved to Town on a two-year contract for a “nominal” fee and will wear shirt number four, had five years in South Wales.

He swapped The Valley for the valleys in July 2009, when Cardiff paid Charlton £1m.

The right-sided six footer made 165 appearances for Cardiff, the penultimate one at home to Town on August 16, when City won 3-1.

He also scored 11 goals, one of them a last-gasp effort against Town in the Welsh capital on the opening night of the 2012/2013 campaign, when City won 1-0.

It was to be a big season for both Cardiff and Hudson, who skippered Malky Mackay’s team to promotion to the Premier League.

Guildford-born, Hudson came through the Fulham academy and made a handful of first-team appearances for the Cottagers, all in the League Cup.

His first taste of league football came during a loan stint at Oldham Athletic in 2003/2004.

He played 11 times in League I, then stepped up to Championship level when Fulham loaned him to London rivals Palace for the second half of that season.

Hudson clearly impressed in his 14 outings for the Selhurst side, who won promotion to the Premier League, because the deal was made permanent that summer.

He had four years at Palace, who returned to the Championship in 2005, playing a further 122 games and notching seven goals.

Charlton came calling in 2008, with Hudson playing 45 times (three goals) but unable to help prevent relegation to League I.

The move to Cardiff, who never finished below sixth in his time there, meant he remained in the second tier.

Hudson played under three managers, Dave Jones, Mackay and Ole Gunnar Soslkjaer, and for a time, alongside his new Town teammate and fellow centre-back Anthony Gerrard.

Solskjaer’s deadline-day signings of Gabon international Bruno Ecuele Manga and his fellow centre-back Danny Gabbidon paved the way for the exit of Hudson.

Fulham also showed interest, but Town won the race for his services.

The club have been seeking a seasoned centre-back ever since the departure of former skipper Peter Clarke.

And the concession of 13 goals in the first five Championship games of the season only added urgency to the search.

Hudson tweeted: “Thank you to all the fans @CardiffCityFC and players. Proud to have been your captain the last 5 yrs. Shame the way it ended #BLUEbirds.

“Really looking forward to my new challenge @htafcdotcom #terriers #letsdothis.”

Stand-in Town manager Mark Lillis said: “The club has stayed patient to bring in the right man to improve the central defensive options and that has been rewarded with this arrival of Mark.

“Organisation and experience are very important attributes in the heart of your defence and Mark has both in abundance.

“He is a leader with vast experience of the Championship and is a massive arrival for this football club.

“There are not many centre-backs of his type and quality around. He can be a hugely influential addition.

“Huge credit has to go to the staff behind the scenes for getting this deal over the line amid considerable competition from some big clubs in this division.

“It’s testament to the ambition at Huddersfield Town.”

Hudson’s is Town’d fourth signing since the start of the season after Conor Coady, Jacob Butterfield and on-loan Jack Robinson.