Thursday 16 June 2016 15:32, UK
Hartlepool have completed their sixth summer signing with the capture of defender Aristote Nsiala from Grimsby.
Nsiala, 24, who turned down the offer of a new deal to stay at Grimsby, has signed an undisclosed contract at Victoria Park.
"He's big, quick, aggressive, good in the air and is a defender who defends - he's everything you're looking for," Pools boss Craig Hignett told the club's official website.
"He had interest from elsewhere but for footballing reasons he wants to come here. He wants to improve and he feels like our place is the place he can do that."
Nsiala played a key role as Grimsby won promotion back to the Football League via the National League play-offs last season.
He moved to England from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002 and after progressing through Everton's youth system turned a loan move to Accrington into a permanent switch in the summer of 2012. He has also had spells in Vietnam and at Southport.
Pools had previously signed Nicky Deverdics, Ben Dudzinski, James Martin, Jake Orell and Ben Pollock since the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Hartlepool winger Nathan Thomas has signed a new contract with the club.
Thomas, 21, who joined the club from Mansfield in January, has agreed a new undisclosed deal.
