Craig Hignett has completed his sixth new signing of the summer after agreeing terms with tough-tackling midfield star Gus Mafuta.
The 24-year-old ball-winner has put pen to paper on a move to The Super 6 Stadium after playing almost 30 times for promoted Salford City last season.
No-nonsense Mafuta began his career with Colchester United and then Bristol City where he captained the Under-23 side before gaining some senior experience during a loan spell with Nuneaton.
Following his release from Ashton Gate in 2015, the box-to-box midfield man moved on to Gateshead where he produced some outstanding performances and went on to play over 60 times.
A strong and powerful operator, Mafuta was snapped up by Salford in the summer of 2017 and played against Pools for The Ammies on the final day before also starring in their Promotion Final triumph over AFC Fylde at Wembley.
Pools boss Hignett has made no secret of his desire to add some extra steel to his engine room as he looks to reshape the squad for 2019/20 and Mafuta definitely fits the bill on that front.
Mafuta becomes the latest new arrival at Pools following the acquisitions of Nicke Kabamba, Ben Killip, Luke Molyneux, Michael Raynes and Gime Toure this summer.