YORK City Knights have completed the permanent signing of half-back Jamie Ellis from Leigh Centurions on a one-year deal.

Ellis played twice on loan for York midway through the club's Betfred Championship campaign before being recalled by his Betfred Super League parent club.

The deal goes some way to redressing York's issues at half-back through the 2021 season, with first-choice pair Morgan Smith and Brendan O'Hagan, whose futures for next year have to be revealed, managing just six league games between them amid injury issues.

Ellis will bring huge amounts of experiences into the halves for York, having played the vast majority of his career in the Super League, with this his first permanent outside the top flight since 2011.

He began his career at hometown club St Helens before a move to Leigh, with whom he won the Championship Player of the Year award in 2011.

A move to Super League soon followed as Ellis joined Hull FC, though it was not until making the move to Castleford Tigers that he significantly made his mark.

Ellis featured in the Castleford side which reached the 2014 Challenge Cup final - the club's first since 1992 - at Wembley Stadium and were beaten by Leeds Rhinos.

In 2015, Ellis joined Huddersfield Giants where he spent three seasons, the latter of which saw him loaned out to Hull KR and be part of the Robins' promotion winning side from the Championship.

After second spells at Castleford, Hull KR and Leigh, Ellis now joins with almost 200 career appearances and over 1,000 career points to his name.

Speaking about the signing, which was made possible through the help of the club's Squad Builder Fund, York head coach James Ford expressed his delight at bringing Ellis to his squad for 2022.

Ford said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get this deal sealed for Jamie.

"I really enjoyed working with him in the brief time we had him this year and I’m positive he will have a huge impact on us moving forwards.

“He’s a very intelligent rugby league player with a great kicking game and his ability to change tempo in shape and structure is excellent.”

Ellis said: “I spent that two weeks there and it was a breath of fresh air for me.

"York are a good club and things look like they are going in the right direction with the stadium and the set-up.

“Fordy is a great coach. Even after leaving, I’ve spoken to him quite a lot and watched the York games.

"I’ve given him my thoughts on what I’ve seen and I feel this is an exciting club to be at.

“We get on really well and I feel that you need a good relationship, especially as a half-back, with your coach and I have that with him.

“Since leaving the club, I’ve been watching out for the results and everything because I was so engrossed in the club.

"I really enjoyed my time with the Knights earlier this season and I’m looking forward to getting started.

Ellis revealed that he will not be getting another job to go alongside his work with the part-time Knights in order to benefit his rugby career.

“I’ve got loads of ambition," he added. "It’s a part-time club but I’m not going to be getting a job, I’m going to solely focus on rugby.

"My fiancée really wants me to go for it so I’m going to be like a full-time player in a part-time environment so I’m going to get myself into the best shape I can and really go for it.”

Knights chairman Jon Flatman has hailed the role of the Squad Builder, which has also helped secure the retention of Matty Marsh.

He said: “The help of Squad Builder is huge for the club and the make-up of our squad.

“The hard work of all involved and those who donate mustn’t be underestimated and we are delighted that, with their help, we have been able to secure a player of Jamie’s calibre.

“We’re pleased to have the support of such a dedicated group and we look forward to making more 2022 squad announcements with the help of Squad Builder in the coming weeks.”

Ellis becomes the seventh confirmed member of York's 2022 squad after Marsh, Will Jubb, AJ Towse, Myles Harrison, Toby Warren and Joe Brown.