O'Keefe had a trial at Derby County at the end of last season

Walsall have completed the signing of Blackburn Rovers midfielder Josh O'Keefe on a one-year contract.

The 20-year-old failed to break into the first team at Ewood Park, and joins the Saddlers after ending last season on trial with Derby County.

"Josh is a player we have been monitoring for some time," said Saddlers manager Chris Hutchings.

"He is a young lad who wants to push on - this is a chance for him to develop and go on to bigger and better things."

O'Keefe is the Saddlers' third signing in a week, with his arrival following hard on the heels of the captures of Burnley striker Steve Jones and Northampton defender Mark Hughes.

He is a box-to-box player who is capable of scoring goals Chris Hutchings on Josh O'Keefe

And Hutchings believes the tall midfielder will relish the chance of regular first-team action.

"He is a box-to-box type player who is capable of scoring goals from midfield and is an exciting addition to the squad," he added.

More new faces are expected at the Banks's Stadium before the season begins, with the club being strongly linked with former Birmingham City and Grimsby Town winger Peter Till.

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