Ben Heneghan, a former defender for AFC Wimbledon, signed a two-year contract to play for League Two opponent Port Vale.
Heneghan left Fleetwood Town at the end of the previous season after playing for Sheffield Wednesday under Vale manager Darren Moore.
The 30-year-old played 71 games for the Dons before departing in July 2022 to join Wednesday.
Moore remarked, “Ben is another player that I know really well from my days at Sheffield Wednesday.”
“He will give our defensive unit some true competition. He is a fantastic character to have in and around the dressing room. He is an aggressive, aerially dominant centre half leader.