JOSH LAURENT yesterday left Hartlepool United, signing for Wigan on deadline day.

The midfielder’s transfer was announced last night, after a £500,000 deal was mooted earlier in the day.

“I’m really excited, can’t put it into words,’’ he said.

The fee is undisclosed, but given Laurent’s limited experience and inconsistency, factors pushing it towards half a million pounds would be in various clauses and add-ons.

Signed from Brentford 12 months ago, Laurent, 21, made 18 starts this season and his last outing for Pools was as a late substitute in Saturday’s defeat at Newport.

He signed a new contract earlier this year as a reward for his efforts in stepping up into the first-team squad and last night said: “I’ve learned a lot at Hartlepool, every day, every week it’s serious football and I am hoping to   even more here.

“It’s a long-term deal, I’m still young and trying to learn all the time, every day.

“The manager spoke to me and said I need to be hungry and work hard every day.

“Speaking to the manager - I’m sure the players will play for him to get results. 

“To get out there at the stadium will be lovely and to play in front of bigger crowds.’’

Laurent also paid tribute to Pools’ chairman Gary Coxall and former boss Craig Hignett on Twitter after his exit.

He tweeted: Absolutely loved my time at @Official_HUFC & I want to thank everyone at the club for their amazing support during my time there.

“The fans, my teammates, the backroom staff; all first class. Thank you. @official_hufc is a great club filled with great people.

“And I'd like to give a special mention to the chairman @MrGCoxall and Craig Hignett who believed in me and helped me in every way possible!’’

Wigan also signed former Pools’ loanee Mikael Mandron and boss Warren Joyce said: “Josh is a player the club has been watching all season and we feel he has the potential to shine at a higher level of football, given the right environment and the time in which to develop.

“He’s a powerful, ball-playing midfielder and we welcome him to the squad."

Laurent, the third player to exit Pools this month after Toto Nsiala joined Shrewsbury and Jake Carroll went to Cambridge, could make his debut on Friday against Sheffield Wednesday.

Pools signed striker Andrew Nelson from Sunderland on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Boss Dave Jones said: “He’s a young player who has been recommended to us,” revealed boss Jones.

“The club has had him watched over a period of time and the feeling is that he could be an asset for us. He is still quite young but that is where this club is at this moment in time.

“It’s important that we try to build good relationships with our local clubs so I would like to thank Sunderland for their help in arranging this deal.”