SAINTS have signed Exeter defender Dan Seaborne on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

As revealed in today's Daily Echo, Saints were chasing the 22-year-old's signature and he has now put pen to paper, joining for an undisclosed fee.

The centre half recently impressed in Exeter’s 3-1 loss at St Mary’s on Boxing Day when he was up against Rickie Lambert and David Connolly.

Seaborne has come up through the ranks at Exeter, making 79 appearances for the Grecians in league action plus five as a sub.

He was an integral part of the City side that won back to back promotions under former Dell midfielder Paul Tisdale in 2007/08 and 2008/09.

Despite his young age, he was captain of the Exeter team that defeated Cambridge in the Conference play-off final in May 2008.

With Saints due to travel to Exeter in League One on Saturday, February 6, Seaborne admitted he was excited about being reunited with his old side so soon.

But his main focus is on making a good first impression if he takes part in Saturday's trip to Millwall.

"I'd love to be involved when we play down there, but Saturday's game at Millwall is the most important game for me at the moment," said Seaborne.

"Hopefully I'll be in the team this weekend, put in a good performance and go from there."

Seaborne added that the support of the Saints fans during the 3-1 Boxing Day win over Exeter, which saw a full house at St Mary's, was another reason to move.

"The fans sounded amazing," he said. "I was on the opposite team, so there were a couple of boos thrown my way, but it was a good experience.

"We played at Leeds this season, but this place is right up there with the best place I've played at, and the crowd played its part in that."

Saints confirmed last night that reports on national television that Coventry defender Elliott Ward had signed for the club were false.