Jason Demetriou is the first Walsall signing
Walsall have made their first signing of the summer after snapping up defender Jason Demetriou from Cypriot outfit Anorthosis Famagusta.
The 27-year-old right-back put pen to paper on a one year deal at the Banks's Stadium and will meet up with his new team-mates today for the start of pre-season training.
Demetriou, whose move is still subject to international clearance, came through the youth ranks at Leyton Orient while Dean Smith worked as a coach at Brisbane Road.
Born in London, he moved to Cypriot outfit Larnaca in 2010 to realise his ambition of playing international football and has since gone on to make 27 appearances for Cyprus.
Demetriou said: "I'm so excited and can't wait to get started. I've missed the buzz of the English game and this opportunity has come up at the right time for me.
"I owe a lot to Dean Smith. I worked closely with him as I was coming up through the youth ranks at Leyton Orient, so I know the way he works.
"It's clear to see already that he has created an excellent environment here. The set-up is great and, hopefully, I can play my part in us finding that winning formula.
"I am the type of player who likes to get forward at every opportunity and I will be looking to use my experience to good effect here."
The full-back made 167 senior appearances and became a firm fans favourite at Orient, before opting to move to Cyprus.
And Smith believes Saddlers fans will be impressed with their new recruit when they see him in action.
He said: "I'm delighted to be have been able to persuade Jason to come here. He is very driven, very energetic and he is a winner.
"He went to Cyprus to realise his dream of becoming an international footballer, but it's great for us that I've managed to talk him into coming back.
"He's an attacking right-back, who will bring bags of energy and great technique. But it's that winning attitude which is key, that winning mentality is what I really want to install in the dressing room."
