Jones in to bolster the Blues backline

JAMES Jones has signed for Chester from National League side Altrincham and says they were at the top of his list of clubs to join.

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The central defender has put pen to paper on a one-year-deal with the Blues and becomes Calum McIntyre's second new addition to the squad for the 2025/26 season after fellow defender Tom Leak.

Experienced Jones, 28, named club captain in 2023, made 146 appearances for the Robins over two spells, also playing in the EFL with Barrow, where he featured on 54 occasions.

He said: "I'm absolutely made up. I left Altrincham a couple of weeks ago and, after looking at the clubs I could join, Chester was at the top of the list.

"In the past eight years I have played for Barrow and Altrincham, so Chester is the biggest club I have played for.

"Although I am coming down a level, I know the size of this football club. It's in a division it shouldn't be in."

Jones' arrival boosts a Chester squad already lifted by the news Iwan Murray and Nathan Woodthorpe have agreed new deals with the club.

Murray and Woodthorpe join Tom Peers and Jack Bainbridge in extending their stay with Murray penning a new one-year deal with a further option to extend.

He was an instrumental figure in the Seals' midfield last campaign and featured 41 times in all competitions, scoring four goals, the most notable was the opening goal in a play-off eliminator victory over Buxton.