Former Huddersfield Town man David Mirfin signs for Mansfield Town

The Stags have won the race to capture the 32-year-old centre-half, who left League One Scunthorpe United at the end of the 2016/17 season.

Sheffield-born Mirfin graduated from the Huddersfield Town academy in the 2003/04 season and helped to keep 16 clean sheets in 25 matches as the Terriers won promotion from Division Three.

The 6ft 1in defender was a rock in Huddersfield’s defence over the next few League One seasons, winning the Players’ Player of the Year, Away Supporters’ Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year for the 2006/07 season.

He left West Yorkshire at the beginning of the 2008/09 season and joined Scunthorpe United for a deal worth a minimum of £150,000.

His first season at Glanford Park culminated in promotion to the Championship via the play-offs, with Mirfin making 37 league appearances.

Mirfin played a major role in the Iron maintaining their Championship status following promotion, but then opted to leave Glanford Park at the end of the following season to join Watford on a two-year deal.

However, Mirfin returned to former club Scunthorpe United on loan until the end of the 2011/12 season, before signing permanently for the Iron.

The former Huddersfield man missed just one game in a season which saw Scunthorpe secure promotion to League One in 2014.

A brief loan spell with Hartlepool United followed in the 2014/15 campaign, before he returned to Scunthorpe and once again became an integral part of their side. Mirfin made 36 League One appearances last season as the Iron finished in the play-off positions, bowing out after a 3-2 aggregate defeat against eventual winners Millwall.

“I watched Scunthorpe last season on a number of occasions where David stood out,” said manager Steve Evans.

“His competence in defending and his willingness to win every header that came into his box was a big reason why Scunthorpe went so close to securing Championship football last season.

“I must admit it was a surprise to myself when I read that Scunthorpe were not going to take him forward in their journey, but every management team has different options and opinions.

“We were in a queue to speak to David, amongst a number of clubs. I met the boy on three to four occasions and it’s fair to say that we got on really well and he wanted to buy into a project. This is a very exciting project.

“He is an outstanding centre-back, even for the league above.”