FOREST Green Rovers have signed Paul Digby from Mansfield Town for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old was has been a long term summer target of the club and joins on a two-year deal.

Digby can play in a number of positions including central midfield, central defence and right-back.

He began his career at Barnsley where he was named their most promising academy player in 2008. He was loaned out to Ipswich Town during the 2015-16 season before signing permanently in June 2016.

He played just six times at Portman Road before joining Mansfield last summer where he made 21 appearances.

Digby has also been capped for England at under 19 and 20 level.

The player says that manager Mark Cooper was key to his move to The New Lawn and believes it's an exciting time to be at the club after their summer recruitment.

“The manager played a big role in my move here," said Digby.

“I have played against his teams a fair few times now, his Swindon team, his Forest Green team and they play football the way I want to play football and that was a massive attraction for me.

“The other factor was the players they have brought in already this summer. They look like they are going to have a real go this season, so it is exciting for me to be here.”

Cooper was also pleased to get his man, he added: “We’ve been chasing Paul for the majority of the summer after being informed that he was available but it took a while to get done.

“We’re pleased to get it over the line.

“He is 6’ 4”, can fill a number of positions for us and has got that presence as well.

“What we’ve done is taken players who are young in years but have got a lot of experience in terms of games they have played and clubs they have been at.

“He is a big lad but he is also a good footballer. He can play in midfield as an enforcer, he can play at centre-half, he can play right-back, it is a really good signing for us.”

Digby will wear number 20 for Forest Green, with the deal being subject to EFL and FA approval and may feature in the opening game against Grimsby Town this weekend.