YORK City have announced the signing of central midfielder Michael Woods.

The 30-year-old left National League side Dover Athletic today after agreeing a mutual contract termination and becomes Steve Watson’s 11th summer signing.

Woods was born in York and started his career at Leeds United before being picked up by Premier League side Chelsea, playing for the Blues between 2007 and 2011, and making two first-team appearances in the FA Cup at the age of 16.

After spells with Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers and Harrogate Town, he joined Hartlepool United and made 159 appearances over five seasons in League Two and the National League. Last season, Woods made 35 appearances in all competitions for Dover, scoring three.

Woods comes from a footballing family with grandfather Alan Woods making 228 appearances for York City between 1960 and 1967 as well as his uncle, Neil, who made eight appearances during the 1998-99 season.

Upon joining, Woods said: “I grew up as a kid on the terraces watching your Rodney Rowes and it’s an opportunity to come home and I can’t wait to get started.

“I feel very lucky, it feels a bit like a fan coming to play for the club he supported as a kid.

“I’ll give everything I’ve got.

"I like to get on the ball. I was asked to play more of a defensive role last year at Dover but I do like to get box to box.

“I had a chat with the gaffer and the plans going forward for the season – there's going to be that freedom for lads to go out and play and express themselves and hopefully the city can have a team to be proud of.”

Steve Watson added: “He’s a player I’ve admired for a long time. He played against me at Hartlepool when he was at Gateshead - he was outstanding and I’ve kept an eye on him ever since.

“What’s great for a manager and fans I suppose is he really wants to play for York. Once we got chatting and talked about the direction we want to take the club he is somebody who, like a lot of the players I’ve signed this pre-season, can comfortably play at this level and step up if and when we do.

“The main thing for me is that he is a goal threat, he is a leader and very good talker. The season before last for Hartlepool he was near double figures from midfield and that’s something we needed to improve on.”

The deal is subject to FA and National League approval.