Bolland (left) has made over 300 league appearances in his career to date

Cambridge United have signed defender Phil Bolland on a free transfer.

Bolland, 31, has been without a club since being released by Wrexham at the end of last season and has joined the U's on a short-term contract.

Player-coach Paul Carden told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "He's the type of player we need, he'll get stuck in and do the dirty things.

"He'll be a good example and show what we want the likes of Josh [Coulson] and Gavin Hoyte to be doing."

Bolland played alongside Carden and U's boss Gary Brabin at Chester and becomes the Cambridge's third summer signing.

Carden added: "We lost three experienced centre halves in the summer and we don't want to be relying on young lads to play 40 games in a season."