YORK City have signed versatile wing-back Jeff King on a free transfer following his release from Sky Bet League Two side Swindon Town.

The 28-year-old, who joined the Robins in the summer after a successful trial, has made the move to North Yorkshire to be closer to his family.

His arrival is a timely one for Adam Hinshelwood’s Vanarama National League table-toppers ahead of their hotly anticipated clash at second-placed Forest Green Rovers in front of the DAZN cameras on Saturday.

Whilst overcoming derby rivals Hartlepool United 5-3 in front of a near-record crowd at the LNER Community Stadium last weekend, City’s trip to The New Lawn will prove a true test of their promotion credentials as they seek to return to football’s fourth tier.

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King already has one National League title on his CV, having made 19 appearances for Chesterfield as they earned promotion back to the Football League at a canter last season.

He featured over 100 times for the Spireites during his three seasons at the club, scoring 13 goals, and also earning a place in the National League Team of the Season in 2022-23.

The set-piece specialist began his career via the youth set-up at Altrincham, then spending time in and around the local non-league scene with Prescot Cables, Nantwich, Kendal, Trafford, Ashton United, Witton Albion and Drolysden.

He then moved to Bolton Wanderers in 2016, featuring for their Under 23s before making a senior debut against West Ham in the EFL Cup the following year.

He though struggled for game time with the club, and after briefly turning out for FC United of Manchester during their spell in the Vanarama National League North in 2018 – including scoring a hat-trick against Bradford (Park Avenue) – he left the club that summer.

King briefly played in Scotland with St Mirren, but it wasn’t until the following year that he settled as a footballer in the north with Halifax Town.

He made 74 appearances across his time at The Shay before departing for Chesterfield in 2021 having earned both their Player of the Season and a place in the National League Team of the Year.

Leaving the Spireites at the end of their promotion-winning season, King was a regular starter at Swindon before taking a leave of absence due to a family bereavement.

His final appearance for the Wiltshire club came in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy in a group stage match against Tottenham Under 21s earlier this month.

Hinshelwood spoke on his newest addition, telling BBC York: "He's got experience and knowhow of getting out of this league before, so we'd be foolish not to look at it.

"He will give real competition for places and that's so important at this stage. Anyone that is being average in training or in games, they've got to up it, as there will be someone there ready to take your spot.

"That's healthy competition and that's what we're trying to create at the club.

"Predominantly he's a right-back, he can really bomb forward and provide something similar to Ryan Fallowfield.

"Ry can also play very well at centre-back, so there is real competition for places.

"Joe Felix can also potentially play in central midfield or left-back.

"It just adds to the depth that we have got in the back line, if we get Jeff fully up to speed and he can understand what we fully want from him, then he will be a real good addition for us."