Rovers Sign Midfielder John Welsh

Tranmere Rovers have today completed the signing of former Liverpool and England U-21 midfielder John Welsh on a two-year contract becoming John Barnes's third new signing of the summer so far.

After the arrivals of Alan Mahon and Paul McLaren last week, Tranmere have today completed their third signing of pre-season as midfielder John Welsh put pen to paper on a two-year contract at Prenton Park.

Welsh, who has been on trial with John Barnes and his squad over the last few weeks, joins the club on a free transfer after being released by Hull City when his contract expired this summer.

A former England U-21 player, Welsh started his career with Liverpool, where he rose through the youth ranks and made his debut under Gerard Houllier, aged 18.

He made ten appearances for his home town club, though the majority of them were from the substitutes bench, before joining Hull City in January 2006 in a swap deal after a successful loan spell with the club.

Welsh has remained with Hull ever since, though he has spent time out on loan last season with Carlisle, Bury and Chester after suffering a career threatening leg break.

He was however a key part of the Hull teams that rose through the Football League Ladder, eventually making it to the Premier League through the play-offs during the 2007/08 season.

A winner of eight England U-21 caps, Welsh, 25, has made 82 career appearances, 54 of them for Hull, and scored three goals, all for the Tigers.

A central midfielder, Welsh will be seen by many as a replacement for Steven Jennings, who left Tranmere for Motherwell nearly two weeks ago.