Jamshedpur FC continued its string of signings and announcements under head Coach Owen Coyle with the addition of 32-year-old Peter Hartley.

The Englishman put pen to paper with the club on Sunday for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21. The robust defender comes at the back of a highly successful season with Motherwell FC in the Scottish Premiership.

He captained the team to 3rd place in the league, only behind Scottish legacy teams – Celtic and Rangers, thus qualifying Motherwell for the UEFA Europa League 2020-21.

Hartley has played 418 matches in his stellar career since his senior team debut in 2007, keeping 122 clean sheets and scoring 37 goals.

Delighted at joining Jamshedpur, Hartley said: “I’m honoured to be given an opportunity to sign up for Jamshedpur, a club with ambition to win. I certainly didn’t have to think twice about playing for Owen Coyle, a manager held in high regard.

“I promise to give 110 per cent every single day in order to bring success and silverware to the Jamshedpur supporters. At every club that I have played for, my goal has always been to add glory to my jersey number till the day I depart.”

Hartley is a Sunderland AFC Academy product. The left-footed centre-back was scouted into the Sunderland AFC youth system as a 12-year-old in 2012 and rose up to the ranks with his impressive performances. He played and trained with the former English Premier League side’s senior team too and made his debut in 2007 versus Leicester City under Roy Keane’s tutelage.

The defender has played in prestigious tournaments in England like the FA Cup and the League Cup where he represented his clubs against the likes of Chelsea and Everton, Sheffield United, Wartford and Wigan Athletic. He has played versus Burnley in 2009, which was then under the management of Owen Coyle.

Owen Coyle was thrilled to have Hartley in the squad. Underlining the importance of signing the defender, Coyle said: “Hartley is a massive signing for us. He brings in so much experience from playing in the English leagues and the Scottish Premiership. He is a central defender with great capability and a born leader. He is a fighter who is mentally strong and a fierce competitor. Hartley hates conceding goals and that’s the attitude I need from my centre-back.”

Hartley will don the Jamshedpur jersey with the number 29.