Hibernian are delighted to confirm the signing of versatile defender Tom James.

The 23-year-old moves from Yeovil Town and has agreed a three-year deal to move to Easter Road to become our fifth signing of the summer.

Tom, a former Welsh youth international, worked his way through the ranks at local club Cardiff City before making the switch to Huish Park.

He predominantly featured as a right-back for The Glovers but is comfortable anywhere across the backline and offers added competition within a defensive unit that has served Hibs so well in recent years.

Tom sailed through the formalities of his signing at the Hibernian Training Centre and will join up with the rest of his team-mates as they step up pre-season training ahead of the new campaign.

Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom was pleased to have beaten off stiff competition for Tom’s services and said: “We’re really pleased to have Tom on board.

“He’s a highly-rated young player who can operate in a number of positions, which is obviously advantageous when we want to run with a smaller group.

“I know Tom well and we have seen him play many times.

“I’m delighted he has bought into what we want to achieve here because he had a lot of other offers.

“Tom has good quality, is composed on the ball and has a great attitude to improve.

“We look forward to working with him.”

Paul’s in-depth presentation during signing talks went a long way to convincing him that Hibernian represented the best place to take the next step in his development as a player.

Tom, who will wear the number 17 shirt, said: “The gaffer’s presentation was very detailed which, straight away, showed how keen he was on me.

“As a footballer that’s what you want. You want the manager to be on your side from the start and I feel like he definitely is.

“I want to repay him for that.

“I think he wants me to be a full-back who gets forward, creates chances for others and a few for myself.

“First and foremost, my job is to defend but I do like to get up and down the flank for the full game, though I did play all the way across the back four last season and occasionally in the centre of midfield.

“It was definitely the gaffer who swung it for me. He showed how much he wanted me with the detail he went into and the way he spoke about how he wants to improve me and the club in general. That was the biggest pull.”

Why not join nearly 12,000 fellow Hibernian supporters and secure your season ticket for the new season?

Tom James is the latest summer signing as Paul Heckingbottom and Robbie Stockdale reshape the squad for the challenges that lie ahead.

We’d love to pack the place out and do everything we can to support their hard work on the training pitch.

Season tickets are available now.