YORK City have this afternoon completed the signing as expected of experienced striker Jon Parkin from Sky Bet League Two side Newport County.

The much-travelled 34-year-old has signed a loan deal until January, with agreements in place for the switch to then become permanent until the end of the season, with the option of a further year.

Having progressed through the youth ranks at hometown club Barnsley in the 1990s, the 6ft 4in defender-turned-forward made his senior debut aged 17 in a First Division clash against Hartlepool United.

After making only 13 appearances for the Tykes in four seasons, however, and spending time on loan at Hartlepool and York City, the then Minstermen boss Terry Dolan snapped him up on a permanent basis in 2002.

Over the course of the next two campaigns, Parkin went on to make 87 appearances in North Yorkshire. He had arrived as a centre-half but was transformed into a striker, scoring 15 goals in all.

A move to Macclesfield Town materialised midway through the 2003/04 campaign, and in his first full season with the Silkmen, he netted 26 goals in all competitions.

It was this form that prompted then Championship outfit Hull City to sign the big hitman in January 2006.

After just over a year with the Tigers, Parkin joined Stoke City on loan in March 2007, before signing permanently at the end of the season for an initial fee of £275,000.

The forward was part of Tony Pulis’ side which won promotion to the Premier League during the 2007/08 campaign, but left at the start of the club’s return to the top flight as he switched to Preston North End.

Two and a half fruitful seasons followed at Deepdale before Parkin moved to Cardiff City and then experienced time on loan with Doncaster Rovers, Huddersfield Town and Scunthorpe United.

Fleetwood was his next destination in June 2012 and, by the end of his two-year association with the Cod Army, they clinched promotion to League One via the play-offs.

In July 2014, Parkin then moved to National League side Forest Green Rovers where in his first campaign at The New Lawn he bagged 30 goals from 52 appearances, before netting a further 13 last season.

Following his departure from Gloucestershire in the summer, the forward signed a one-year contract with Newport and in ten league outings this season has netted four goals.

His transfer to Bootham Crescent is subject to international clearance.