Jones said he was looking forward to returning to English football

English Championship club Scunthorpe United have broken their transfer record to sign Hibernian captain Rob Jones for an undisclosed fee.

Jones, 29, a 6ft 7in central defender, had been at Easter Road since moving from Grimsby in June 2006.

"It feels great to sign for Scunthorpe. It's nice to be back in England," he told the club website after signing a three-year deal at Glanford Park.

"I was interested in coming here and now I've cemented that."

Scunthorpe's previous record fee paid was for striker Martin Paterson, who joined from Stoke in the summer of 2007.

In December 2007, the Iron were ordered by a tribunal to pay Stoke an initial fee of £305,000 for Paterson, with a further £120,000 depending on appearances - although he moved on to Burnley in June 2008.

I wouldn't have moved to the club I didn't think it could stay in the Championship Rob Jones

Jones was the subject of repeated bids from Colchester in the January transfer window and Hibs say they honouring an understanding reached with the player at that time.

Hibs manager John Hughes, who took over in June, hoped to persuade his skipper to stay on but Jones said he was delighted to sign for Scunthorpe after "the right noises" came from the Championship club.

"I wouldn't have moved to the club I didn't think it could stay in the Championship," the towering defender added.

"I've played against Scunthorpe twice in the past so I have experience against them. I know plenty about the club and I'm glad to be a part of it."

Hibs chairman Rod Petrie thanked Jones for his time at the club and said he understood the defender's reasons for leaving Easter Road.

"Rob leaves with all our best wishes and he has led by example on and off the pitch," he said.

"We could have asked for nothing more from him than the professionalism, commitment and leadership he demonstrated, particularly after the distractions in the transfer window last January.

"This is a move that Rob wants for family and footballing reasons, and gives a return to the club at the right time."

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