Richard Keogh has joined League One side MK Dons after he was sacked by Derby in October following his involvement in a drink-driving crash with his team-mates.
The defender has not played since the incident but has had several offers to get back into the game with Russel Martin's side beating fellow third tier outfit Ipswich Town to his signature.
The 33-year-old suffered serious knee ligament injuries last September when he was passenger in a car that his former team-mate Tom Lawrence crashed into a lamp post after a team-bonding night.
Welsh international Lawrence and his team-mate Mason Bennett, who was also in the car, were fined, banned from driving for two years and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid for their part in the crash.
The pair also appeared in court on October 15 after being charged with drink driving with Derby fining them both six weeks wages.
Keogh, who was the Ram's captain at the time, had his contract terminated after rejecting the chance to stay at the club on reduced wages.
In a statement at the time, the club said: 'Derby County Football Club has completed the disciplinary hearing regarding Richard Keogh in respect of his involvement in the events of Tuesday, September 24th.
'As a result of that process, Mr Keogh has had his contract terminated with immediate effect for gross misconduct. He has the right of appeal within 14 days.
'As we have said from the outset, the Club will not tolerate any of its players or staff behaving in a manner which puts themselves, their colleagues, and members of the general public at risk of injury or worse, or which brings the club into disrepute.'
Keogh has made over 500 club appearances during his career and has 26 international caps for the Republic of Ireland.
MK Dons have not said whether he will be fit to take to the pitch for his new side with his knee injury originally expected to keep him out until December this year.
The defender played alongside Dons manager Martin during a brief loan spell at Wycombe in 2005 and said he was excited to link up with his former team-mate.
'I'm delighted to be here,' he told iFollow MK Dons. 'Once I spoke to Russ and saw the vision and playing style he has – it just felt like the right fit for me.
'I can't be more excited, it's a fantastic set up here and I really believe in what Russ is trying to build here - I think it's going to be a perfect fit for me.
'When I saw he got the MK Dons job I was always keeping an eye out for how he was doing, to do what he did in the short space of time, to change the philosophy and the culture in that period was fantastic.'
Martin joined the club on a playing basis in January 2019, helping the team achieve promotion from League 2. He announced his retirement after he was appointed manager following Paul Tisdale's departure in November.
The 34-year-old outlined his delight at beating other clubs to Keogh's signature.
He said: 'He (Keogh) probably turned down more lucrative offers to play here and, for me, it’s a massive signing and it’s a statement from him to say he wants to be part of it. He’s been my number one target in that position for a long time – so I’m delighted to have it over the line.'
The club finished the 2019-2020 season in 19th place after the campaign was curtailed due to the coronavirus crisis.