Port Vale sign Luke Hannant
Port Vale sign Luke Hannant: Port Vale FC have confirmed the signing of Gateshead midfielder Luke Hannant for an undisclosed fee.
Hannant had been strongly linked with the Valiants in recent days after Neil Aspin admitted he was a keen admirer of the midfielder earlier this month. However, it looked at one time as if Vale would wait until the summer to make their move.
Aspin knows the player very well after he brought him to Gateshead while he was managing the National League side.
The midfielder was a youth team player with both Norwich City and Cambridge United before he decided to study for a degree at Northumbria University. During his time as a student he helped Dereham Town to win the Eastern Counties League Premier League which brought him to the attention of Gateshead. He signed for the Heed in 2016 and made his debut in October.
In January 2018, Aspin’s replacement at Gateshead, former Newcastle United player, Steve Watson told the media that: “Hannant has been one of our best players this season.”
Hannant joins Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Donovan Wilson and former Redditch striker Dior Angus as new arrivals during the January transfer window as Aspin looks to reshape the squad which he inherited from former manager Michael Brown.
Hannant is also the third non-league player to be signed by Aspin and Director of Football John Rudge. It appears that non-league is a deliberate route taken by the duo to bring in young, hungry players who will be “ones for the future.”
A Port Vale club statement reads:
Port Vale sign Luke Hannant
Neil Aspin brings in his third signing of the January transfer window.
The Club are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Luke Hannant.
Hannant joins the Valiants from Gateshead for an undisclosed fee on a deal that is due to expire in the summer of 2019, subject to ratification from the FA, Football League and National League.
It will be the second time that the midfielder links up with Neil Aspin as the gaffer initially signed Hannant for Gateshead during his tenure in the North East.
Hannant went on to make 46 appearances for the Tynesiders scoring 4 goals in total.
Luke will link up with his new teammates as he battles to make the squad for Vale’s visit to Accrington Stanley on Saturday 20th January 2018, and will wear the number 34 shirt.
Luke Hannant Factfile
Age: 24
Clubs: Gateshead
Appearances (Gateshead only): 46
Goals (Gateshead only): 4