Sherriff made 43 league starts for Tranmere last season (Getty)

Shrewsbury Town have signed defender Shane Sherriff from League One side Tranmere Rovers on a free transfer.

The 25-year-old left-sided player, who competed for Australia at the 2004 Olympics, has signed a two-year deal.

Sherriff began his career at Leeds as a trainee and had a short spell on loan at Rochdale before joining Danish side AGF Aarhus in 2003.

"I'm delighted to have got Shane, he is a quality footballer," Shrews boss Paul Simpson told the club's website.

"He's at a good age in his mid-20s, he's a left-sided player and my thoughts are he's a left sided centre-half but he is equally comfortable at left-back or left midfield.

"He was already regarded as a good young player at Leeds but he never really got a look in.

"I took him on loan at Rochdale but I wasn't allowed to sign him permanently.

Graham's a player who I still like but things have dragged on for so long now Paul Simpson

"He was offered a two-year contract by Ronnie Moore at Tranmere but I think he just felt he needed a change."

Meanwhile Simpson has confirmed that Shrewsbury will not be signing Rotherham defender Graham Coughlan.

"Graham's a player who I still like but things have dragged on for so long now.

"I've had to make a decision and I've pulled out of the move for now, if anything changes further down the line you never know but for now I'm not going to take it any further.

"I've spoken to Graham and he's disappointed."