Grimsby Town Football Club are pleased to announce the signing of defender, Bilel Mohsni on an initial one-year deal.

The 33-year-old becomes Ian Holloway’s first signing of the summer, following the team’s return to pre-season training last week.

We caught up with the manager this morning to discuss his first summer signing. “He is my leader, he’s my Virgil van Dijk”, said Holloway. “He can play anywhere, to be honest with you. In France, they have a sort of hall of fame, where they let anybody without a contract train and play with others and they play against clubs.

“He kept playing, he played nearly 30 games in that environment and he’s a wonderful man, I’ve known him for a very very long time, he’s a little bit firey I must admit…but I’ve forgiven him and I want him here to help us with our young lads. I’m absolutely delighted he’s decided to join me, he had other choices but because we were so close last year, he’s decided he wanted to come back to me”.

The former Rangers and Dundee United defender enjoyed a successful period on trial at the club at the start of the year, which had to be cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking exclusively to gtfc.co.uk, Mohsni discussed the period of uncertainty, as well as his eventual signing for the Mariners.

“I’m happy to be back”, said Mohsni. “I was starting to be ready with Greg when I was here before, working very hard before the lockdown. When that came in, I was back on my own in France and it was difficult, because we had the lockdown too which made it very difficult to train.”

Mohsni also spoke about the impact manager, Ian Holloway had on his move and his continuous motivation towards the defender over the last few months. “We have kept in touch, always texting each other, he is such a good man”, said Mohsni.

“I like him as a man, not just as a manager. This virus was dangerous for all of us and it was great to keep in touch with him, always asking me how are my family, how am I keeping and things like that and then told me that when the team returns to training, he wants me to come back. He called me last week asking if I was ready and to come down on Sunday, so I didn’t even have to think, I came and I am happy to be back”.