Defender Leon Barnett joins Northampton Town
Defender Leon Barnett has become Northampton Town's latest summer signing as manager Justin Edinburgh continues work to strengthen the squad.
Barnett is a 6ft 1in experienced centre back who has played at the highest level, winning promotion to the Premier League three times in his career.
After starting out at Luton Town, he made a £2.5 million move to West Brom in 2007 and after making 36 appearances in 2007/8 Albion won promotion to the Premier League, he played 14 times the following season in the top flight. He won promotion back to the Premier League with Albion in 2010. Another promotion was not far away, and following a successful loan spell at Norwich City, helping the Canaries win promotion from the Championship, he made the move permanent and played for Norwich in the Premier League in 2011/12.
He then signed for Championship side Wigan Athletic in 2013, and played 97 times in three years for the Latics, before moving to Bury in the summer of 2016. He played 26 times for the Shakers in the 2016/17 season, the majority of his appearances co-inciding with the Shakers improved form in the second half of the season as they secured League One safety.
"Leon is a dominant, leader type centre half who puts his body on the line," said manager Justin Edinburgh.
"He has played a lot of his football in the top two tiers with a fair amount of success and he has a lot of quality.
"Leon has three promotions from the Championship to the Premier League on his CV and we believe the qualities he has will be a big help to the squad.
"He is another good character, he is a winner, he is mobile, aggressive, big and brave and I think he will fit in well."
Barnett has signed a two year contract at Sixfields.