Finn Harps have confirmed the signing of experienced defender Aaron Labonte from Scottish First Division side Dunfermline Athletic.
Harps have agreed an initial loan deal until the end of the season with the option of making the switch permanent thereafter. Labonte, aged 24, is a pacey right-back who is equally comfortable in the centre of defence and has made 85 appearances for the Scottish outfit.
Starting off as a trainee at Newcastle United in 2002, Labonte was offered a trial by Dunfermline and impressed the Pars enough to be offered a two-and-a-half year contract at East End Park.
He impressed initially and played in the 3-1 2004 Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic, marking Henrik Larsson, but injury curtailed his involvement in the 04/05 campaign.
However, he started 23 matches in 2005/06 and 13 in the following season but the arrival of Stephen Kenny saw Labonte feature less in the team and he was told by the Dubliner that he was not in his plans prior to Kenny's own departure from Dunfermline.
Finn Harps boss Paul Hegarty hailed the signing: 'It's a tremendous signing for us to be honest, the lad has got great experience having played in two Scottish Cup finals, and has something like 50 starts in the SPL. He's still only 24 and he's hungry and that's the kind of player we want.'
He added: 'He can play at right back or at centre half so he is versatile, which is a big bonus as well.'
