Walsall sign midfielder Paul Marshall

Walsall have made their first new signing of the summer with a move for ex-Manchester City starlet Paul Marshall.

The 20-year-old has penned a one-year deal with the Saddlers, after his release from Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen at the end of last season.

And central midfielder Marshall, an England under-20 international, is excited by the challenge of League One with the Saddlers under boss Chris Hutchings.

He said: "Working under Chris will be good for my development, as he has managed at the highest level.

"I am delighted to come here and have the opportunity to play at a good level.

"I've already played at a good standard in the Scottish Premier League and the Championship, plus I've been to the World Cup with England under-20s, so I am looking forward to the challenge that League One presents as the standard of teams at this level is high."

Marshall is close pals with Clayton McDonald after playing with him at City and revealed the Saddlers defender helped convince him to move.

He said: "Clayton is a good friend and he really sold the club to me. Now that the deal has been done, I just can't wait to get started.

"I also have to say that the training ground is quality. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was and it will certainly be a nice environment to work in.

"The Banks's Stadium is also a nice, compact ground and will be a good place to play my football."

Marshall failed to make a first team appearance for City but was a regular in the reserves.

The youngster was loaned out to Blackpool and Port Vale, before signing a short-term deal at Aberdeen in January.

But Marshall failed to win a new contract a Pittodrie and boss Hutchings admitted the Saddlers had been tracking his movements for a while.

The manager said: "We're really pleased to have Paul on board. He's a player who has been on our radar for quite some time and we're delighted that he's agreed to come to us.

"Our chief scout, David Hamilton, watched him on numerous occasions last season and I too have seen him at close quarters.

"He is a good friend of Clayton and that can only be a good thing in terms of the player settling into a new environment.

"Paul is a talented young player and I'm looking forward to working with him."