NEWPORT County AFC have signed defender Ryan Haynes from League One club Shrewsbury Town for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old left-back or left wing-back has signed a two-year deal at Rodney Parade.

After putting pen to paper, Haynes said: "I’m happy to have joined Newport. It’s a new challenge for myself and I’m really looking forward to the season ahead."

Manager Michael Flynn, who also signed left wing-back George Nurse on loan from Bristol City today, said: "Ryan is a very talented full-back and I am delighted to have got him.

"I have spoken to a few people about him and they all believe there is a very good player there."

Haynes joined Shrewsbury from Coventry City on a two-year deal last summer and started the season on the left of defence.

He played a lot of the early games but dropped out of the starting line-up at the end of August.

Haynes came back into the starting line-up at the beginning of December but the addition of Scott Golbourne to the squad saw Sam Ricketts go with the experience of the older man.

Ricketts said: “With Scotty Golbourne being in house and with taking Ryan Giles in on loan, it means Ryan would be third choice in that situation.

“He wants to go and play football so the most important thing is that he finds a club where he can play football.

“He is still a player who needs to go and play a full season somewhere as he has got good potential.

“He needs to go somewhere and play 40 to 50 games a season and despite all his potential he hasn’t been able to do that yet, so that will be a big thing for his development.”