Notts County have signed versatile midfielder Gill Swerts on a free transfer, the club have confirmed.
Swerts has penned a two-year deal with the club and will also be involved in some coaching with the academy. He joins having left Dutch side NAC Breda following the expiry of his contract this summer.
A summer clearout for Breda
Breda finished 16th in the Dutch Eredivisie this year, meaning they had to face Roda JC Kerkrade in a relegation play-off, with the winner earning top flight status for the 2015/16 campaign. Breda lost the two-legged tie though, and were relegated as a result.
Therefore, the club have had a clearout in the squad this summer as they try and push for promotion again in the coming season, and have viewed Swerts as surplus to requirements, deciding not to renew his contract.
County managed Ricardo Moniz has worked with the player before during his time over in the Netherlands, and jumped at the chance to work with him again when he was released.
Swerts told BBC Radio Nottingham that he is looking to "prove [himself] to the fans, the team and the club." He also stated that he is looking forward to life in League Two, having heard that the third and fourth tiers of English football consist of "competition [that] is really hard."
Testing times for County
County were found themselves relegated at the end of the season gone and are preparing for life in League Two, with Moniz clearly viewing the experience of Swerts as something that can help the team establish a push for an immediate return to League One.
A right-back or a right-midfielder, the 32-year-old spent two years with Breda before departing this week, making 31 appearances during his time there. Prior to that, he has enjoyed spells with Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar and Vitesse in the Netherlands.
He has 17 caps for Belgium and has scored one goal for his country, but has not been called up for the team since 2009.