Grimsby Town manager Marcus Bignot has made his seventh signing of the January transfer window by finally capturing attacking midfielder Sam Jones from Gateshead, reports the club’s official website.
The Mariners’ boss has chased the 24-year-old for much of January and had looked to have given up the hunt after a third bid for the midfielder was turned down earlier in the month, instead turning his attention to the trio of Solihull’s Jamey Osborne, Mansfield’s Chris Clements and Birmingham’s Luke Maxwell.
But, on transfer deadline day, the Mariners completed the signing of the former Leeds United youngster in a deal thought to be worth in excess of £30,000.
Jones has scored nine times for the Tynesiders already this season, having been top scorer for Alfreton Town in the Conference North last term.
A club statement read: “Grimsby Town Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Sam Jones from Gateshead on a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.
On the books of Leeds as a youngster, Jones was released from Elland Road and resurrected his career in the lower leagues with impressive spells at Retford and Heanor, before joining Alfreton in July 2015, going on to be top scorer in his solitary season at the Impact Arena.
Jones has continued that form into this campaign but the Tynesiders had held firm in the wake of previous five-figure bids but the promise of cash for a player whose current deal expires in 18 months time proved too much.