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Former Manchester City talent who starred alongside key England trio completes Scottish Premiership move Motherwell have confirmed the signing of the talented midfielder for an undisclosed fee. Former Manchester City midfielder Joe Hodge has completed a move to Scottish Premiership side Motherwell for an undisclosed fee, the Fir Park club have confirmed. Hodge, 23, has signed a two-year contract with the Steelmen, with the option of an additional year, and becomes head coach Alfred Johansson’s seventh signing of the summer following a 12-month stint with Portuguese second-tier outfit Tondela. Capped at senior international level by the Republic of Ireland, the 23-year-old began his career in the Manchester City youth academy, where he emerged as a key player alongside the England trio of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Phil Foden, winning the club Scholar of the Year award in 2020, before leaving to sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers just two years later. He struggled for regular game time at Molineux, though, and spent time on loan at Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers before making a permanent switch to Tondela last year, where he became a regular, playing 27 times last season, but was unable to prevent them from being relegated to the second tier. Despite his side’s demotion, Hodge was reported to have captured the attention of several clubs this summer, with Motherwell winning the race for his signature. “Joe is an excellent footballer who fits the profile for the type of midfielder we want in our squad,” said Johansson via the club’s official website. “He has played in the [English] Premier League against some of the best players in the world and has gained experience in English and Portuguese football. At 23, he has achieved a lot, but there is more to come from this young man. “Joe is dedicated and driven. Our conversations have been hugely encouraging, and I have enjoyed getting to know him. We feel we play a brand of football that will allow Joe to flourish and develop further. He made it very clear that he wanted to play for Motherwell from the very start of this process, so I’m pleased we’re at this stage. Our summer signings have already made a huge impact this season, and I fully expect Joe to settle in quickly and hit the ground running.” “I’ve been so keen to get this done,” said Hodge. “Having watched Motherwell games last season and the games this season, I’ve been itching to get involved. There are a lot of new faces this season, but the cohesion amongst the players is clear with the great results so far this season. As a footballer, you want to play in football teams that you feel are best suited to your qualities, and I feel this group of coaches and players are a perfect match for me. There are lots of games coming up, so I’m looking forward to what comes next.” Comments Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.