We are happy to announce the signing of Michael Tonge, after the midfielder put pen to paper earlier today, in a deal which sees him through to the end of the season.

Tonge has been training with the Vale squad all summer and has featured in the pre-season fixtures throughout the build-up to the 2017/18 campaign.

The midfielder has featured in all the pre-season games against the likes of Kidsgrove Athletic, Newcastle Town, Buxton, Derby County, Chester and West Bromwich Albion.

The 34 year-old joins Vale with a vast amount of experience under his belt, having made over 500 career appearances.

Over 250 of them came during his time at Sheffield United, where he rose through the ranks and spent the first eight years of his playing career, experiencing promotion to the Premier League back in 2006.

Tonge then later moved to Stoke City and had spells out on loan with Preston North End, Derby County and Barnsley.

Michael then made the permanent switch to Leeds United in the Championship, spending the next three years with the club, as well as fitting in a loan spell at Millwall during the 2014/15 campaign.

His next move came into League Two and with Stevenage, experiencing life lower down the divisions.

Tonge had two years with the club, playing 61 games and scoring three goals, before heading to Vale Park this summer.

Michael will now begin to focus on this weekend’s opening day of the season clash against Crawley Town, as Vale look to get off to the perfect start at the Checkatrade Stadium.