FORMER Swindon Town defender Jonathan Grounds has signed for the club's League Two rivals, Exeter City.

Grounds - who Town head coach Ben Garner recently revealed had asked to terminate his contract after not reporting back to pre-season - played 33 times for Swindon last term as the club was relegated from League One.

The 33-year-old arrived in September 2020 and helped to keen just one clean sheet in his time, notching his only assist on the final day as Town beat Wigan Athletic 4-3.

Speaking to his new club upon signing, Grounds said: "I'm really pleased to be here. I came down to see a couple games recently and got really excited about it so pleased to get it over the line.

"Hopefully, (my experience) can help not just on the playing side. The squad here is quite young, so hopefully my experience in the game and knowledge of football can help them and bring their games on.

"The way the manager wants to play, passing through the lines, will suit me. And it's always a good way to play when we have the ball at our feet."

Meanwhile, Grecians manager Matt Taylor said: “We’re a little bit short of experience at the moment so it’s important we brought someone in, not just for the back line but for the squad as a whole.

“He is someone who has generally played at a higher level so he will add an awful lot to what is a young group of men.

“His age is of such that he may not play every minute of every game but I know he wants to get into the coaching side of things as well, but there has got to be a playing value. He’ll bring extra quality and extra control from his experience over the years.”

Grounds is set to be reunited with his former club for the first time when Exeter host Swindon at St James Park on Boxing Day.