Chester FC have confirmed the arrival of defender Theo Vassell on loan from Walsall until January.
Vassell signed a one-year contract with Walsall including the option of a further 12 months at the end of last week having left League One rivals Oldham Athletic in May.
He marked his first outing for the Saddlers with a goal in a behind-closed-doors game against Norwich City on Saturday.
Vassell nodded in a 56th minute equaliser after Elliott Bennett had given the Canaries the lead but Alex Neil's side hit back four minutes later through Cameron Jerome to take a 2-1 victory at St George’s Park.
The promising 19-year-old, who can operate as a centre-back or right-back, has now been loaned to the Blues to gain first-team experience and further his development.
He follows new Saddlers team-mate Liam Roberts in making the move from the Banks's Stadium to the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium after the goalkeeper linked up with Chester last week.
Vassell was born in Stoke-on-Trent and signed for his hometown club at the age of nine, remaining with the Potters until he was released aged 18.
After leaving the Britannia Stadium at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, Vassell signed for Oldham in October 2015 having impressed on trial.
But he did not make a senior appearance during his time at SportsDirect.com Park and was one of seven players released this summer.
Chester manager Jon McCarthy was keen on a permanent deal for Vassell, who spent a few days training with Walsall towards the end of the season.
He remained in contact with the player when the it became clear the Saddlers were planning to sign him and the good relationship between the clubs resulted in the loan switch being agreed.
McCarthy's opposite number at the Banks's Stadium, Jon Whitney, has high hopes for Vassell.
"He came in at the end of last year and trained with the first team and I was really pleased with his application and defensive attributes," Whitney told Walsall's official website when he signing was announced.
"He’s quite old school. He just wanted to defend first and foremost, and then work on the technical side.
"He’s one for the future. He may push through and be one we put out on loan to get some games under his belt."
Vassell could make his first appearance for the Blues in Wednesday's pre-season game with Wigan Athletic.
