MORECAMBE boss Derek Adams has made his first signing of the summer.
Former West Ham defender Stephen Hendrie has agreed a one year deal with the Shrimps after becoming the club’s first capture ahead of the new campaign.
Born in Glasgow, the 25-year-old left-back came through the youth ranks at Hamilton Academical, making his first-team debut in July 2011 as a 16-year-old.
Over the next four years, he went on to play more than 100 games for the Accies, helping them secure promotion to the Scottish Premiership in 2013-14, before moving to West Ham for a reported £1m in July 2015.
That month, the 21-year-old was on the bench for West Ham’s Europa League qualifying matches against Birkirkara, before starting the season as first-choice left-back with the Hammers’ Under-21s.
Hendrie featured on the first team bench a further three times in December – for the Premier League games against Swansea, Aston Villa and Southampton – before making a January loan move to League One’s Southend United.
The Scottish star made five appearances for Phil Brown’s side, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory away to Shrewsbury on his third outing for the Shrimpers.
After a loan spell with Blackburn Rovers Hendrie returned to Southend United, signing a two-year contract in 2017 for the then League One club, before spending last season with Kilmarnock.
He said: “I’m really happy that everything has been sorted and after lockdown and four months without football, I can’t wait to get going.
“I played a lot of games early in my career but the last few years has seen things come to a bit of a stall and I’m really happy to be at Morecambe and looking forward to playing football again.’'
Boss Derek Adams said: “Stephen has a lot of experience at a good level and went to West Ham for £1M earlier in his career.
“He will give us competition in our defence and will strengthen us on the left-hand side of the pitch, He is a good fit for us.’'