Wrexham AFC are pleased to confirm David Jones has signed a one-year deal to become a player-coach at the Racecourse Ground.
Hugely experienced midfielder Jones, 36, has been on trial with Wrexham over the summer and has now put pen to paper on a new deal.
Jones is a veteran of four promotions to the Premier League, across three different clubs, and more than 100 top flight appearances.
He now returns to Wrexham, where he will wear number 18, having first started out in the Club’s centre of excellence under Mike Buxton as a nine-year-old.
And on signing his deal, he said: “I’m delighted, I’m excited and I can’t wait to get started.
“It’s been great getting back into training. The style we train in and the tempo really suits me. It’s something I’ve been used to at a lot of clubs I’ve been at and that really suits my game.
“It’s been really good to get a lot of game time recently, as well as the good training, so I’m feeling good and I’m ready to go.
“Wrexham was my first club I signed for age nine and ten, before I signed for Manchester United. I’d be out there in the car park with Mike Buxton – what a great coach he was here – and he set me on my way.
“He gave me some really good skills and habits, that I have taken on in my career, so there is a sense of coming full circle being back here. It’s an opportunity I want to take, and maximise as much as I can.
“It’s definitely exciting to be here. From a distance I’ve been keeping an eye on what’s been happening with this Club. I have family who are season ticket holders. Wrexham are always a topic of conversation.
“Now that I’m fortunate to have an opportunity here, I’m excited to get started.”
After leaving Wrexham, Jones came through the academy at Manchester United, winning the FA Youth Cup, and made his senior debut for them in the League Cup.
He won an England Under-21 cap and spent time out on loan at Preston North End, NEC and Derby County before joining the latter on a permanent basis.
At Derby, he earned the first of four promotions to the top flight – a feat he also managed at Wolverhampton Wanderers and twice at Burnley.
He also played top-flight football for Wigan in between and, after leaving Burnley, signed for Sheffield Wednesday and then Oldham.
His move to Wrexham, after featuring heavily in pre-season, now gives him the chance to combine playing with coaching – having already earned his B License.
And Jones added: “It’s a chance to use my experience in the game, I’ve been in the game a long time now and had a lot of good experiences so it’s a chance to be able to influence the group in a positive way and have a successful season.”
On the signing, manager Phil Parkinson said: “I’m delighted to get David signed. He’s an excellent professional, and will help to drive standards on the training pitch this season.
“It was important to get him in training through pre-season because he’s been out of the game for a while, but it was also important to get to know him. He has an important role to play, and has been really good with the young players.
“The coaching role will now evolve as we move forward. David’s focussed on getting as fit as he can and making an impact on the pitch.”