Bristol City have confirmed the signing of Mark Sykes on a three-year deal, becoming Nigel Pearson's first key signing of the summer.
The 24-year-old midfielder underwent a medical at the High Performance Centre earlier on Monday as City's summer recruitment plan gets into full swing following the news Callum O'Dowda will be released on the expiration of his contract.
Sykes, naturally a right attacking midfielder, joins on a free after opting against extending his deal with the League One side. He scored eight goals and assisted five last season in 36 league starts.
The player told Robins TV: "I'm delighted, I came over last week and met the manager, everything was positive. I've always wanted to play in the Championship and the manager was honest with me - he told me he would give me a chance here at the club so hopefully things keep moving in the right direction.
"It's unbelievable here to be honest, I've only been at two clubs so I don't have vast experience at training grounds but from what I can see here it's unbelievable. It's top-class, no complaints.
"My priority is to have a good pre-season and get myself in the team. I want to hit the ground running."
Pearson has reiterated the need and desire to work within a stringent budget while recruiting players who have the desire to succeed and have the right tools at his disposal to win 'scruffily.'
Before the official announcement of Sykes' arrival, Pearson told Geoff Twentyman's BBC Sounds of the City: "We know the types of players who we want to come in, we want players who are ambitious and certainly Mark Sykes ticks those kinds of boxes."
The manager was also keen to add goals from his midfield to ease the burden on his attacking trio. His side scored 62 goals last season with Chris Martin, Antoine Semenyo and Andi Weimann scoring 42 of those.
After those three in attack, Alex Scott was the club's top scorer with four, ahead of Nahki Wells and Rob Atkinson who managed three and two respectively.
Pearson will now likely turn his attention to bolstering his defence with Kane Wilson an option at right wing-back. Forest Green's League Two Player of the Season is out of contract in the summer but is attracting competition from Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City.
City have already signed Guernsey duo Ben Acey, 18, and forward Tim Ap Sion, 16, following successful trials at the club.
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