Stockport County beat Wrexham to signing of former Manchester United man Nick Powell

Stockport County have beaten off competition from Wrexham to sign former Manchester United midfielder Nick Powell on a three-year deal.

Powell has been the subject of interest from several clubs this summer, having left Stoke City at the end of last season. He also spent time training at former club Crewe.

But the 29-year-old has signed for the Hatters as a free agent and will play an integral part in their attempts to escape League Two next season, having lost in the play-off final in May. Powell joined United from Crewe for £6million in July 2012 but the teenage prodigy made just nine appearances for the club, scoring once, before loan spells at Wigan, Leicester City and Hull. He then joined Wigan permanently before signing for Stoke in 2019.

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He scored 28 goals in 119 games in the Potteries before leaving the club and was available as a free agent this summer, with the ambition of County convincing him to move to Edgeley Park.

“I’m really happy to be here and to be a part of what’s happening at County right now. I think everyone can see what an exciting journey the club is on, the ambitions that the owner has for the club, and that was something that really appealed to me when deciding on my next move," he said.

“The boys came so close to promotion last season, we all know the aim is to take that next step this time round and be a League One club, which is where a club the size of County belong – hopefully I can play my part in making that a reality.”

Powell, a former England Under-21 international, was Stoke's player of the year in 2021 and has 86 career goals in 340 appearances so far. County's director of football Simon Wilson believes his