Northampton Town boss Kevin Nolan says the club's "excellent relationship" with Nottingham Forest helped pave the way for Jack Perkins' move to the club.
The Cobblers have signed the midfielder for an undisclosed fee and he has penned a two-year deal at Sixfields after spending a week with the club towards the end of the season.
Perkins never reached the first team at Forest but former Notts County boss Nolan said he saw enough of Perkins to know he would be an asset.
"We are really pleased to welcome Jack to the group," said former Newcastle and Bolton midfielder Nolan.
"We have followed his progress closely, we are well aware of what he is capable of and we had him training with us for a week before the season ended so we could get a really close look at him.
"You could see how well he fitted in with the group. We could see he has a really good mindset, a very good work ethic and a strong desire to do well and to compete and progress.
"With our excellent relationship with Forest, all parties felt this could be an excellent move for Jack and that was very good to hear. We feel we can help develop Jack to hopefully become an important member of the squad here and we are looking forward to working with him."
Perkins joined Forest as an eight-year-old and progressed through the age groups to become a B-team regular.
He started every game in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy. He also played the full 120 minutes in the final of the Premier League International Cup in May, as the B Team lifted a major trophy with a penalty shoot-out victory.
Forest's head of academy Chris McGuane said: "This is a great opportunity for Jack at an important time in his personal development as a person and a player. Everyone at the Academy is well-connected to Jack, someone who has been with us since he was a young boy and has been an asset to the Club both on and off the pitch.
"It was a great moment for the B Team winning the Premier League International Cup, as many of them have been playing together for a long time. He played a vital part in that success and now has the chance to compete in senior football at a good Club, in what is a very competitive league.
"One of our key objectives is to ensure that our players have careers beyond the Academy, as not all will play in the first team, and this is a great example of obtaining a positive destination for the player and positive outcome for the Club. Jack leaves with our very best wishes, and we are sure he has the skill and the personality to have a successful career in the game.”
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