Town have confirmed the signing of veteran former England international Ashley Young on a one-year deal.
The 40-year-old, released by Everton at the end of last season, underwent a medical at Town earlier today and becomes the Blues’ fourth signing of the summer.
Young is joining purely as a player with no coaching duties and is the club’s oldest ever signing.
"Ashley has had a fantastic career and his achievements speak for themselves,” manager Kieran McKenna told the club website.
"He has maintained an extremely high level of professionalism and competitiveness through his career and he is still playing at a very good level.
"We feel his leadership and experience will be valuable to the group this season and he is very hungry to contribute on and off the pitch. It’s a very strong signing for the group and the club.”
As reported last night, Young watched the U21s friendly at Needham Market with other members of his family, with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad. It's understood Tyler has impressed and looks set to be offered terms, although as it stands he remains a trialist.
Earlier in the week, it emerged that Young was on Town’s radar but with no deal done at that stage, a move back to his first club Watford having fallen through.
Capped by England 39 times, scoring seven goals, Young senior started his career with the Hornets having joined them aged 10.
The Stevenage-born full-back or winger moved on to Aston Villa in 2007 and then Manchester United four years later and was at the club after Kieran McKenna had been promoted to the first-team staff and has praised the Blues boss.
A spell at Inter Milan, where he was in a side which won Serie A, then a return to Aston Villa followed, prior to joining Everton, for whom he made 36 appearances last season, in July 2023.
Speaking last week, Young said he is keen to keep playing in the season ahead despite hitting his forties.