FORMER Swindon Town defender Zeki Fryers has signed for National League side Stockport County on a one-year deal.

The 29-year-old was released by Swindon over the summer - following the club's relegation to League Two - and has now penned a short-term contract with the club he followed as a boy.

Speaking to his new club's website, Fryers said: “I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to be able sign for my hometown club.

“Some of my first footballing memories are of being taken to Edgeley Park as a kid, standing at the back of the Cheadle End, watching players like Mike Flynn and Alun Armstrong, and seeing the team compete in the Football League.

“I’m really excited about the prospect of playing in front of those supporters myself now, and I’m looking forward to helping the team and the club kick on and hopefully get back to where they belong.”

After being signed by Richie Wellens in the summer of 2019, Fryers went on to make just 36 appearances as a problematic injury played havoc with his availability. Nevertheless, the 36 outings were the most Fryers has made at any of his nine professional clubs so far.

The left-sided defender graduated from Manchester United's academy before making his senior debut for the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson in a 3-0 victory over Leeds United back in 2011.

Fryers made his Champions League debut later that year off the bench against Romanian side SC Otelul Galati at the age of 19, and he went on to record a pair of Premier League appearances for United as well - coming on during a 4-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers and a 5-0 thrashing of Wigan Athletic.

The defender, who only recently celebrated his 29th birthday, left Old Trafford in 2012 at the end of his contract and joined Belgian club, Standard Liege for six months - though he only made seven appearances.

After an 18-month stint at Tottenham Hotspur, Fryers joined Crystal Palace in 2014 and stayed there for three years via loan spells at Rotherham United and Ipswich Town.

Fryers went to Barnsley for a short time before going on to help Swindon acheive promotion to League One by making 22 appearances and scoring one goal.