EVESHAM United have swooped to sign centre-half Jordan Staten from higher-ranked county rivals Redditch United.

Staten was wanted by several Southern League clubs last year but remained at Hellenic League side Bishops Cleeve.

The ex-England schoolboy international won the managers' and players’ player-of-the-year awards at Cleeve in 2018-19 before joining Premier Division Central strugglers Redditch in August.

Halesowen-born Staten was in the youth set-ups at Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town before going to study at Hartpury College.

Evesham manager Carl Abbott said: "I'd been after a centre-back for a while now and we bided our time to get the one we felt was the right fit.

"I'm really pleased to sign Jordan. He's young and hungry with enormous potential."

Staten was on the bench for the 4-2 Division One South home defeat to fellow high-fliers Thatcham Town last weekend.

The Robins fell to fifth in the table ahead of Saturday's visit to Southampton-based AFC Totton (3pm) and a Tuesday trip to Devon's Bideford (7.45pm).

Both sides are in the bottom four but Evesham will face long journeys.

United conceded three goals in the first 21 minutes against second-placed Thatcham.

Kyle Tooze, George Jeacock and Felipe Barcelos got the visitors off to a flying start.

Paul Sullivan pulled a goal back on 36 minutes by flicking in Lee Chilton's corner and Adam Page forced an own goal 10 minutes from time.

The second arrived four minutes after Chilton was sent off for an off-the-ball incident.

But Tooze scored his second late on to inflict Evesham’s first home league defeat of the season.

Abbott added: "Fair play to Thatcham. They are a very strong, good side with lots of quality and know-how who will take some stopping.

"Hopefully we made them work hard for those three points."

Evesham: Walton, Roberts (Tonge), Smikle (Page), Paddock, Maslen-Jones, Cresswell, Dodd, Bragoli, Sullivan, Chilton, Franklin (Sangha). Subs not used: Staten, O'Neill.

Attendance: 242.