Blues boss Steve Burr has made defender Matty Brown his seventh signing of the summer.
Brown, 24, ended last season on loan at the Swansway Chester Stadium from Chesterfield, making eight appearances before returning to the League Two champions.
Spirities manager Paul Cook released the rugged centre back following promotion to League One and Brown has now signed a one-year deal with the Blues.
He rejected an offer to join Conference Premier new boys Bristol Rovers - who signed Burr target Matty Taylor - to return to the club.
Brown said: "As soon as I heard Steve wanted to sign me again there was only place I was going to come.
"Chester are a massive club with huge ambition and I want to be part of that.
"We want to be competitive this season and working with the gaffer and Jon on a full time basis is something I can’t wait to get started."
Brown moved to Chesterfield last summer from Evo-Stik League Premier Division side Marine after an impressive trial spell.
He began his career with Premier League club Manchester City but dropped into non-league with Northwich Victoria before switching to Marine.
Brown scored once in three games for the Spiriters last season and made four appearances on loan with Southport on loan in October.
Burr signed him on loan in February and Brown made his debut in the 2-1 televised win over FC Halifax Town.
He featured another seven times but missed three games through suspension after being sent off against Hyde on April 5.
Brown played in the 2-2 draw with Salisbury City on the final day of the season, a result that saw the Blues end the campaign in the bottom four.
But the club was handed a reprieve from relegation owing to the Hereford United's financial problems and Burr has moved to bring Liverpool-born Brown back to the club.
Burr said: "Matty will be a strong signing for us and impressed me last season.
"He is a big central defender who will have a key role to play with us in the Conference Premier.
"I’m delighted he chose to join us."
Brown joins new recruit Kieran Charnock and Michael Kay, who has signed a new 12-month contract, as central defenders in the squad for next season.
His arrival means the likelihood of Dominic Collins returning to the club are now remote.
