Harrogate Town has announced the signing of right-back Lewis Payne.
The 22-year-old becomes Town’s sixth signing of the summer and joins after spending last season at Morecambe.
The former Southampton academy prospect said:
“I’m obviously buzzing for it to be done and excited to go on.
“I’m an attack-minded full-back or wing-back. I like to get forward, I like to create stuff, I like to score, I like to assist. And obviously, I enjoy the defensive part as well.”
Lewis, who has enjoyed loan stints at Eastleigh, Newport County and Cheltenham, arrives at the Marcy Fitness Stadium having made more than 100 senior appearances and is keen to kick on at Town.
“I think you always want to be part of a project, especially a club that wants to be going in the right direction, because that’s what I want to be doing as well. So it’s definitely nice to find a new home and get going.
"I want to score, I want to assist, I want to bring my game to the team and make a big impact.”
Lewis netted four goals and laid on five assists last year at Morecambe, with Town boss Simon Weaver delighted to bring him into the club.
On the signing, Simon said:
“We’ve chased Lewis Payne the whole summer,”
“He’s a right-sider that we feel can add quality and expertise in a specialist position. Lloyd and I watched a lot of his coverage straight after the end of the season because we knew which way we wanted to play.
“He’s been schooled well, like Kayne Ramsey was, at the same place. He was 17 years of age when he first captained Southampton U21s and he’s a model pro.
“He’ll bring that little bit of expertise in terms of right-footed delivery from wide areas, where he can gain a yard and put in a really whipped-in cross. I think to be honest, we’ve missed that, and with him high up on the right-hand side we can visualise a good return of assists and even attack the far post as well when the ball’s on the opposite flank.
“We’re looking forward to him really embracing the club.”
Lewis will wear the number 2 shirt at Town.
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