Mansfield Town have clinched the signing of versatile left-sided former Chester man Johnny Hunt.
The 26-year-old is highly competent at either left-back or left midfield and is widely regarded as an unfulfilled talent.
Liverpool-born Hunt progressed through the Wrexham academy and made his debut for the Dragons in 2010 against Oxford United.Â
He was part of the Wrexham side which won the FA Trophy in 2013. The match with Grimsby finished 1-1 after extra time and Hunt stepped up to coolly slot home the winning penalty in the shootout.Â
The classy left-footer made over 100 appearances for the North Wales side, scoring 13 goals, before securing a move to League Two side Cambridge United prior to the 2014/15 season for an undisclosed fee.Â
Stating a desire to move closer to home, Hunt left the Abbey Stadium at the end of the season and joined National League side Chester and netted on his competitive debut in a 1-0 win over Braintree.
He was a virtual ever-present in the 2015/16 and the 2016/17 seasons for the Blues.
"Johnny is a young man who first came to my attention when I was first team manager at Rotherham United and he was at Wrexham," said manager Steve Evans. "He had an outstanding season.
"I can remember watching him score the winner in the FA Trophy final before being sold to Cambridge for an undisclosed fee. A few months later he went back up to the north-west and I understood at the time that he was a little bit homesick, being young and away from home.
"I have spoken to the people at Cambridge during the last couple of days just to talk about character and they said that he was a wonderful talent.
"He has matured and I have watched him a few of times, along with Paul Raynor and our head of recruitment. The reports I have received have been very positive.
"Whatever people say about non-league, it's a special place and I love it. There are good players in there and we've certainly got one of the best coming out of it."
"I can remember watching him score the winner in the FA Trophy final before being sold to Cambridge for an undisclosed fee. A few months later he went back up to the north-west and I understood at the time that he was a little bit homesick, being young and away from home.
"I have spoken to the people at Cambridge during the last couple of days just to talk about character and they said that he was a wonderful talent.
"He has matured and I have watched him a few of times, along with Paul Raynor and our head of recruitment. The reports I have received have been very positive.
"Whatever people say about non-league, it's a special place and I love it. There are good players in there and we've certainly got one of the best coming out of it."
The deal is subject to ratification from the EFL.Â
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